Meet José, a 13-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. “José lives with his parents and his grandparents,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. José’s mother stays home to tend to the house and children, while his father works on a plantation to earn money to support their family.
Like many children in Guatemala, José is not receiving proper nutrition and is experiencing the effects of acute malnutrition. “José is far below average for both his height and weight for his age,” reports WK. “He is frequently ill with diarrhea, a cough, and vomiting.”
Guatemala has one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. With an economic crisis and extended drought, many families face food insecurity. As families struggle to provide enough food for their children, the cycle of malnutrition continues. Treatment of malnourished children is crucial to ensure that they grow into their full physical and economic potential. Only with the proper nutrition can this generation break the cycle of economic and food insecurity to provide for themselves and their families.
$535 will provide comprehensive malnutrition treatment for José. “This treatment will supply José with the growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation, and medication for him to recoup some of the weight and height he has lost, strengthen his immune system and increase his overall caloric intake,” explains WK. “His mother and grandparents will receive intensive nutrition education this building their confidence and ability to care for Jose throughout his childhood.”
This intervention will give José the chance to live a healthy, productive life.
José’s family worries about the effects of malnutrition, and are eager to see him get well. “We are really sad because before he was playing and happy, but now he doesn’t want to play,” shares his mother. “He doesn’t want to do the things he used to because he doesn’t have the energy. We are so thankful that you want to give attention to our little one to help him.”