Meet Andres, an infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “He is the youngest child in his family and he has six siblings.”
Andres was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. About one month after he was born, Andres began crying often. WK reports, “His mother started to notice that Andres’ appetite had decreased and he was losing weight. After a couple months it became clear he was not growing as well as the other children of the same age.”
Andres’ parents were unsure how to proceed because they did not have the additional resources to supplement his diet. “His weight and height are far below the average for his age, and he is at for the risk for long-term negative effects of malnutrition,” explains WK. 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.
$535 will fund the treatment Andres needs to address his nutritional deficit. This treatment intervention will provide Andres with the nutritional supplements he needs as well as one to four months of intensive nutrition education for his parents. This two-prong approach will give Andres’ parents the tools they need to continue providing nutrition to their child after treatment is complete. Without these combined efforts, Andres will continue to have low energy and limited mental potential.
This nutritional intervention has far-reaching benefits. Andres will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, thus allowing him to fight infection and illness throughout this life. Equipped with this new knowledge, Andres’ parents will also be able to support all seven of their children in attaining a healthy lifestyle.