Cristian is a 15-month-old from Guatemala. He loves to play with his favorite toy car and eat his favorite foods, which are beans and bananas. Cristian is currently underweight and small for his age. He has malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Cristian has little energy to grow and that his immune system is weak, leaving him vulnerable to illness. However, malnutrition is very treatable.
On June 22, Cristian will begin treatment that includes growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $492 to help fund the treatment so that Cristian will gain weight, his immune system will grow stronger, and community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. The treatment will give Cristian’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets, and it will give Cristian a chance to grow healthily. Treatment will give him an opportunity to play, grow, and participate in his family’s lives supported by a healthy brain and body.
Cristian’s mother says, “I am very grateful to enter into the program because I know it will benefit my son greatly. I hope for my son to recover.”