Edgar is 17 months old and lives with his family in the rural highlands of Guatemala. He loves to spend time playing with his favorite toy car and ball.
Despite his age, Edgar is only the size of a healthy seven-month-old because he has acute malnutrition, a dangerous condition which results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Edgar has little energy to grow and that his immune system is weak.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. On June 22, Edgar will begin treatment that includes growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation to help him recover. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet with limited resources. The treatment will give Edgar’s family tools to maintain nutritious diets and will give Edgar a chance to grow healthily. To help fund the treatment, our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, requests $837.
Edgar’s mother says, “I am ready to learn from the program and I will follow all of the advice that I am given so that my son can be better. I wish for my son to get well so that he can be a happy and healthy child. Thank you to the donors and the institution for the interventions you will bring to my son.”