Catalina is a seven-month-old girl from Guatemala. Her family cannot afford to give her a nutritious diet filled with protein, calories, and nutrients. 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, Catalina began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Catalina loves to play with stuffed animals. She lives with her family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Her father works as a day laborer, harvesting blackberries and corn. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and weaving traditional Mayan textiles. Even though they want the best for their daughter, 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 Catalina 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 Catalina a chance to grow healthy and strong.