Since 3-month-old Nahomy was born, her mother has been unable to provide sufficient breast milk for her. “Her family is poor and cannot afford expensive formula, so instead Nahomy has been drinking whatever breast milk her mother can supply and otherwise going hungry,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “She is losing weight and is not growing in height.”
Nahomy’s mother has lactational failure, and as a result, Nahomy lives with malnutrition.
“Nahomy is an only child of two loving parents,” WK continues. “Her mom weaves textiles and cares for all the household chores, while her father works as a farm hand. They have very little income, and do not own any land. Her mother and father both have a 3rd grade level education, because they had to drop out of school to work to support their families when they were young.”
“Her mother is young and worried what will happen if her child does not receive supplemental milk of some kind,” WK says. “Without intervention Nahomy will continue to lose weight and will be at risk of infection, illness, permanents physical and mental damage, and even death.”
For $1,016, Nahomy and her mother will receive care, treatment, and medication to address Nahomy’s malnutrition.
“Treating lactation failure is easy and effective,” WK says. “Formula supplementation will prevent Nahomy from dying from dehydration or starvation. It will promote normal physical and mental development and gives Nahomy the chance to reach her full growth potential. Nutrition education provides the mother with the skills she needs to ensure her child’s healthy growth and development, and will prepare her for when she starts to introduce solid food into Nahomy’s diet. Nutrition education will help her to give Nahomy everything she needs to be healthy and growing, as well as recognize if/when Nahomy needs other medical attention.”
“I hope God will bring my daughter good health, strength, the ability to study and graduate to become a professional,” her mother says. “I want her to have a better life than we have now.”
