September 2, 2015
Meet Anayely, a 15-month-old girl from Guatemala. Anayely “likes ducks and toys that make noise,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “She has a stuffed lamb. Her favorite fruit is papausa, a fruit found in Central America that tastes similar to a mango.”
Anayely is acutely malnourished. “Her mother is worried because she can see that he is hitting developmental milestones later than her peers and is not growing well. Acute malnutrition can be lethal. The combination of insufficient intake due to lack of access and availability of food and excessive output due to parasitic disease or bacterial infection can lead to extreme dehydration, a destroyed immune system, and death,” says WK.
They continue, “the long-term effects of acute malnutrition can be devastating as well; decreased ability to learn and succeed in school, a weakened immune system thus increasing susceptibility to other illness and diseases, increased risk of complication during pregnancy and chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension, and eventually decreased economic productivity and having children whom also suffer from malnutrition.”
For $535, we can fund a multifaceted treatment for Anayely. “This treatment will supply Anayely with the growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for her to recoup some of the weight and height she has lost, and increase her overall caloric intake,” WK says.
They continue, “Her parents will receive intensive nutrition education thus building their confidence and ability to care for Anayely throughout her childhood. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Anayely the chance to live a healthy productive life.”
Anayely’s mother says, “I hope she will be able to study as much as she wants, so that she can decide and achieve her own dream.” Let’s help Anayely get on the right track and fund this treatment!
Meet Anayely, a 15-month-old girl from Guatemala. Anayely "likes ducks and toys that make noise," shares our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (W...
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December 10, 2015
Anayely began initial treatment for acute malnutrition.
We are saddened to report that, although Anayely began to recuperate from acute malnutrition, her family’s location on the border of Mexico and Guatemala prevented further intervention from our medical partner.
The staff at Wuqu’ Kawoq explains, “When we met Anayely, she was almost fully recuperated from acute moderate malnutrition, with a Z score weight for length of -2, and was in a period of observation in case she had another episode of diarrhea that could quickly send her weight plummeting. The health center asked for our help to provide education and food supplementation.”
“Her family doesn’t have the resources to provide her with an egg, fruits, and vegetables each day, and when we first met Anayely, her diet was mostly thin liquids, for example the liquid from beans or the liquid that herbs were cooked in. Anayely’s mother was an active participant in all 4 group based nutrition classes, and Anayely enjoyed eating the fruit provided at each of the classes, especially the watermelon. Her paternal grandmother, who does a lot of the cooking in their home, also attended two of the classes and is now preparing thicker foods that fill Anayely’s belly with nutrients and the calories that she needs rather than with calorically deficient liquid, and is making better use of the iron-rich herbs that grow by her home.”
“Anayely received a food package twice (each package containing 2 pounds of beans, 20 eggs, a bottle of oil, and Incaparina). Health promoters also visited her in her home to monitor her growth and progress. The last home visit occurred in the beginning of October. The last time we measured her height and weight, her Z score of weight for height was -1.12, which puts her well within the normal range of weight for height, making it much less likely that she will relapse with acute malnutrition. Anayely lives close to the border between Guatemala and Mexico in a community 7 hours away from Wuqu’ Kawoq’s main office. Unfortunately, the environment became unsafe due to drug trafficking activity in the area, and it has become impossible to continue home visits without putting staff in harms way.”
WK hopes to resume working with Anayely once conditions improve, and we will provide an update if we receive further information.
We are saddened to report that, although Anayely began to recuperate from acute malnutrition, her family's location on the border of Mexico ...
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