Silvia is a 22-month-old girl from Guatemala. Her family is worried because she frequently falls ill. She has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Silvia began malnutrition treatment on November 28, 2016.
Silvia is a happy child who loves to play with her toy doll. She lives with her parents and siblings in rural Guatemala. Her father works as a day laborer in the fields, and her mother washes clothes for other families. While Silvia’s parents want the best for their daughter, their limited resources are already stretched thin. The whole family often eats only tortillas for several days. They cannot afford this $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Silvia recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Silvia a chance to grow healthy and strong.
"I looked for your help," says Silvia's mother, "because I want my daughter to grow up healthy and be able to study and graduate as a nurse."