Food by Prescription Pilot in Zambia

Zambia has some of the worst malnutrition rates in the region, resulting from poverty and food insecurity and exacerbated by a 14.3% HIV prevalence rate. To address malnutrition in persons infected and affected by HIV, CRS piloted the Food by Prescription model as part of the PEPFAR-funded SUCCESS Return to Life palliative care grant. The Food by Prescription (FBP) model “medicalizes” food by distributing it to clients in small daily “doses” which are dispensed in health facility and community settings. Nutrition assessment, counseling, and food prescription and dispensing are synchronized with HIV treatment and palliative care services. In the health facility setting, clients collect the food as they collect their monthly medication.