Heidy is a 13-month-old baby girl who lives in rural Guatemala with her mother, father, and three older sisters. She likes to play with stuffed animals and to dance when she hears music. Her mother works in the home and supports the family making artisanal handicrafts, while her father is a gardener. Her parents work hard to provide for Heidy and her sisters, but they do not earn enough money to give Heidy even one piece of fruit, vegetable, or egg per day–making it impossible for Heidy to overcome her malnutrition without outside support.
Heidy is unwell and small for her age. This is because she is suffering from malnutrition, a dangerous condition which results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. Heidy’s mother had noticed that her daughter was eating little and only wanted to breastfeed, but she did not know that Heidy was malnourished until a recent trip to a local health center. Heidy was diagnosed with malnutrition and referred to Watsi medical partner Wuqu’ Kawoq for treatment. If she does not receive treatment, Heidy could face long-term consequences such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school.
Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Heidy recover from malnutrition. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. Her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. Her parents will receive the support they need to help Heidy grow and develop healthily, even with their limited resources. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition and give Heidy the chance to live a healthy and productive life.