Francisco is a 15 month old boy from Guatemala. He is an only child, and his parents describe him as an incredibly happy and calm child and the light of their lives. Francisco loves to walk around with his mother’s help and to play with his toy car and ball.
Francisco also loves to eat black beans and vegetables, but his parents often cannot afford to give him these foods. His father is a farmer, and his mother sells the fruit they harvest in the local market. Together, they only make a couple dollars per day.
Watsi donors previously helped fund Francisco’s treatment for lactational failure when he was an infant and his mother was unable to produce breastmilk. Now that he is eating solid foods, his parents have had trouble providing foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. To ensure Francisco’s healthy development and growth, he needs treatment to help him overcome malnutrition.
Growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and deworming medication will help Francisco recover from malnutrition. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. His immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. His appetite will increase, and those calories will support mental development. Intervention now will give Francisco the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, and get a good job.
