Advise on PLHAs Eating Rice Stored overnight

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members

Most of you must be aware that poor people eat rice early morning mixed with

curd and pickle or green chilly, before going out to work (construction sites,

agricultural labour etc.,). This is normally the rice that is cooked the

previous night and preserved for consumption early next morning. This has been

more or less the culture in most parts of our country, more so in the rural

areas.

Of late Medical officers in ART centers are advising poor people living with HIV

not to consume rice cooked the previous night. While the intention of the

doctors may be good, is there any research or study to show people living with

HIV get adversely affected by such food. It is a matter of concern to us as, on

the one hand poor people are unable to cook early in the morning and eat that

food before leaving for work and on the other hand it has been a practice among

most of them to eat rice cooked the previous night. It causes confusion and fear

among PLHIV about whether they should eat rice cooked the previous night (which

they have been doing for years now).

Hygiene and other things considered, can the doctors in the forum comment on how

we should look at such advice, as well-intentioned as it may seem, in the

context of lack of other alternatives. Cultural norms add to this problem as

this eating habit is considered not only “normal†but also “good†by

poor people.

I await comments please.

In solidarity

Sreeram

Sreeram Varadadesikan

e-mail: <setlurs01@...>