A lot of money is spent at the barber shops to maintain hair to 'brush-levels'. But it is wrong to link one's hair style to HIV status. The problem is such type of insinuations create stigma against men with potato haircuts, and that is completely wrong.
Of course, loss of hair may occur during HIV infection. Sometimes the hair of an adult man begins to look soft and pale, tending towards being wet-look and baby-ish. The hair loses vigour and fails to stand straight.
While the barber shop may offer a weekly solution to falling hair, taking ARVs improves the immune system and body conditions of an individual. ARVs can also restore falling hair to normal growth. Notwithstanding the efficacy of ARVs, micronutrient deficiencies are still common in individuals receiving ARV treatment, and this may delay or hamper body repair functions including restoration of normal growth of hair and nails.
For this reason, there have been calls to support the use of routine multivitamin and micronutrient supplementation alongside conventional ARV therapy. Micronutrients are metal elements that are important components of enzymes involved in different physiological reactions in our cells. Micronutrients are also called trace elements because they are needed in very small amounts, less than 100mg per day.
But most micronutrients are taken through the normal diet, and the World Health Organization recommends dietary intake of micronutrients at the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) levels wherever possible.
On the other hand, since at least 84 minerals and trace elements are needed for the proper functioning of our bodies, our diets fall short of reaching the RDA levels especially in low-income settings. In most poor families, micronutrient deficiencies are common, prompting the need for supplementation.
In HIV-infected persons, studies have shown that micronutrient deficiencies are associated with increased risk of disease progression and mortality. Micronutrient supplements can delay progression to AIDS and reduce mortality in persons taking ARVs.
Inadequate amounts of Vitamins A and B12 cause a decline in CD4 counts. Vitamin A deficiency in women increases chances of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Zinc deficiency causes diarrhea and weight loss, inducing rapid progression to AIDS.
Selenium also reduces the virulence of HIV and slows progression to AIDS. Indeed the literature shows that deficiencies of micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, vitamins A, E and specific B vitamins reduce HIV symptoms and progression to AIDS. This evidence makes a strong case for health authorities and medical aid institutions to provide micronutrient supplements to those that are infected with HIV.
If medical aid companies can support clients that wish to decorate their teeth, or those that go to the gym, I don't see why they should refuse to fund micronutrient supplements. Government hospitals should also provide these supplements. The Zambian government has tried this before, only that time, 'expired' micronutrients were purchased by some Ministry official now facing corruption charges.
But the onus lies on HIV activists. Just like we campaigned for ARVs, let us continue to demand for anything that prolongs lives. Micronutrient supplements now!
l Kazhila Chinsembu is a molecular biologist at the University of Namibia. Email comments to kchinsembu@unam.na
