Cesar is a 16-month-old boy from Guatemala. His parents have had trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. He has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Cesar began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Cesar loves to play soccer, and his mother thinks he will be a famous soccer player someday. He lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. His father works as a day laborer on a bean plantation, using his income to support the whole family. He cannot afford his son’s $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Cesar recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Cesar a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“I am very content and grateful that my son can be in this program,” says Cesar’s mother, “so that I can feed my son better.”