Juan is a 21-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “Juan is the youngest of 6 children in his family. He lives in a poor town and his parents work as wood collectors. They hike high up in the mountains to collect wood to sell.”
Juan has acute malnutrition, and “is currently far below the average height and weight for his age,” WK reports. “Juan’s development is limited by his malnutrition, and will prevent him from doing well in school and eventually obtaining a well-paying job.”
Food instability and marginalization, like that of Juan’s parents, causes indigenous Guatemalan villages to have the highest rate of growth stunting in the world. In addition to stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
For $535, Juan will receive nutritional supplements, food, and deworming medication. His parents will receive one-on-one nutrition education courses. This two-prong approach will give Juan’s parents the tools they need to continue providing nutrition to all of their children.
This treatment has far-reaching benefits. Juan will recoup his weight and height as well as strengthen his immune system, thus allowing him to fight infection and illness more easily throughout his life. Equipped with new knowledge, Juan’s parents will also be able to support all seven of their children in attaining a healthy lifestyle.