“I want him to grow well and learn all I can for him and for my next child,” says the mother of Carlos, an 18-month-old baby from Guatemala. According to our medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), “Carlos is the first child in his family. He likes to accompany his mother to sell things in the street and also likes to play at home…his mother says that she thinks he will be happy when his little sister or brother is born so that he will have a playmate.”
Carlos is currently suffering from acute malnutrition, and his mother is five months pregnant with another child. According to WK, “This is an important detail, because once his little sister/brother is born his mother’s attention will be diverted away from Carlos and focused on the infant.” Fortunately, WK adds that “(Carlos’s) mother is really receptive to learning all she can to improve her son’s diet and she was excited to hear that she could actually impact his health in this way.”
If Carlos does not receive intervention his health will continue to decline and he will be at risk for the long-term effects of malnutrition – he will face physical and mental stunting that will limit his ability to succeed in school and the workforce, as well as hinder his immune system to combat illnesses.
For $512, Carlos can receive treatment for his acute malnourishment. Children enrolled in WK’s recuperative nutrition program receive several months of intensive intervention, which includes an evaluation for infections and weekly monitoring visits to the home by doctors. Carlos will also receive food supplements to reintroduce essential micronutrients into his diet.
In addition, WK says that, “His mother will receive intensive nutrition education thus building her confidence and ability to care for Carlos and perhaps even preventing malnutrition from developing in her next child. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Carlos the chance to live a healthy productive life.”
