Micro-gardening as an Innovative Approach to Achieving Community Sustainability among People Living with HIV/Aids

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is the largest cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Many HIV-infected individuals face additional threats to their well-being due to the challenges they face in securing proper nutrition. Undernutrition can exacerbate an individual’s disease state, cause a loss of self-sufficiency, and negatively impact household and community productivity. Micro-gardening is an innovative approach to addressing food security issues in developing areas of the world, while simultaneously fostering community involvement toward achieving a sustainable solution to reducing the burden of disease in these populations. However, several logistical, educational, and community-level factors need to be considered for the successful implementation of a micro-garden. Senegal is an example where community leaders, local and international organizations have come together to establish thriving micro-gardens in both institutional and household settings for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The overall objective of this review paper is to outline a comprehensive and implementable strategy to micro-gardening in developing community settings. Specifically, we will describe: a) the ways in which micro-gardening can contribute to community sustainability, b) the key components of a successful micro-garden system, and c) the experience of creating micro-gardens in health care and household settings in Senegal

Agriculture · Business · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Food security · Geography · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Malnutrition · Productivity · Social science · Sociology · Sustainability · Thriving · Educational Methods and Impacts · Medicine · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability · Ecology