Esdras is an eight-month-old boy who lives with his mother and sister in rural Guatemala. He is an active little boy who prefers crawling to being carried. He likes to play with cars and balls.
Esdras has been diagnosed with malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. As a result, Esdras has a weakened immune system and little energy. If he does not receive treatment, he will face an increased risk of chronic diseases and low IQ, as well as a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Fortunately, he will begin malnutrition treatment on January 17.
Esdras’s mother is working hard to support Esdras’s health, but she cannot afford the treatment. For this reason, our medical partner is requesting $437 to fund treatment, which will include food supplementation, micronutrients, and growth monitoring. This treatment will allow Esdras to gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. The increased caloric intake will also allow his immune system to grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother how to create a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. These tools will help Esdras’s family maintain nutritious diets and give Esdras a chance to grow healthy.
“My son is the most important for me, and I want him to be healthy and to recuperate in his growth,” says Esdras’s mother.
