Meet Abner, a four-year-old boy from Guatemala. Abner lives in a one room house with a tin roof. He is the youngest of three children. His mother takes care of Abner, cooks, cleans, and provides for the family. Unfortunately, they cannot afford to give Abner high-calorie and high-protein foods such as eggs and buy nutritious fruits. Abner’s dad works as a messenger, but he only gets paid when there is work to do. Abner’s family are often left without an income sometimes for days at a time.
Abner was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. He is below the average height and the average weight for his age. He is currently not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result his physical growth is stunted, and we worry his mental growth will be stunted as well.
As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
$512 will fund the treatment Abner needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Abner of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Abner will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.
“I am very worried about my son because he is not gaining weight,” Abner’s mother shares. “We have fought for him, but we haven’t gotten any results. Nevertheless, we are hopeful.”