Durban — Patients will now be shown practical examples of what healthy eating is as the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and eThekwini Food Security unveiled their innovative aeroponic garden to boost nutrition for HIV treatment at the Isipingo Clinic on Tuesday.
Aeroponic gardening involves growing plants without the use of soil. It is reliant on air to deliver a nutrient-rich mist to the plant’s roots.
Clinic manager Ncamsile Mgobhozi hopes that through the garden, people will be encouraged to live healthily and help address environmental health.
“We want to encourage patients to understand that when they take their medication, they have to couple it with a diet that will not erode the medication from their system.”
The garden will provide training for them to focus not only on medication but also on the importance of the environment, she said.
National medical director of the AHF, Dr Logandran Naidoo, said that this initiative is designed to enhance the nutritional support for community members receiving healthcare services, particularly those on antiretroviral treatment (ART), while also fostering a sustainable and resilient community food system under the AHF’s Food for Health (FFH) programme.
“We strive to continue with the community and clinic to encourage gardening and eating healthy food,” he said.
This groundbreaking project underscores the AHF’s unwavering commitment to the holistic care of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families, he added.
“Nutrition is a critical component of HIV care, as it significantly influences the effectiveness of ART and overall health outcomes.
“The FFH programme, which operates across Africa, addresses the vital connection between nutrition and HIV treatment, ensuring that PLHIV have access to the nutritious food necessary to maintain their health and improve treatment efficacy,” he said.
Ward 90 councillor Shad Nowbuth said the garden is needed with unemployment and the shortage of food.
“As this project is ongoing, we expect to see the growth for overcoming diseases and malnutrition in this large community, especially with the short harvest time,” he said.
Londiwe Ncube, a Health Food Security official at eThekwini Municipality, said the importance of having a garden at the clinic is to avoid malnutrition illnesses by teaching patients about which foods to eat.
“We call it a training hub to show different ways to plant and which ways people can plant at their homes. We recommend trench gardens for the elderly because of the nutrients in the soil underneath.
“There are different pilots in the plot portions helping us teach other clinics in future about the garden. This garden centre will provide knowledge, resource exchange and skills development,” she said.
Joe West of Nandagram Ecovillage, who designed and installed the garden, said it will help underprivileged communities to establish gardens.
The aeroponic garden system has more than 4 000 plants; very little maintenance is needed and it saves water, he said. He hopes to continue working with the clinic and see the community bear the fruits of their hard work. It would utilise recovered and recycled materials.
“This vertical system is not only space-efficient, but also capable of producing a significantly higher yield, with an output of 2 700 to 3 600 plant units per growing cycle.
“This efficiency makes a powerful tool in combating food insecurity, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Isipingo.”
Provincial medical manager for the AHF in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Siyathemba Nxele, said good nutrition is the foundation of effective HIV and TB care.
“Without proper nutrition, patients are less able to withstand the side effects of their medications and more susceptible to opportunistic infections. This garden is more than just a source of food; it’s a lifeline that supports the health and well-being of our patients.”
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