Jessica is a six-month-old girl from Guatemala. Her family cannot afford to give her a nutritious diet filled with protein, calories, and nutrients. For this reason, she is only the size of a healthy two-month old. She has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. She has little energy to grow, and her immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. She is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, Jessica began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Jessica is the first child of two loving parents. They live in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. Jessica loves to meet new people and play with them, and she loves to play with her rattle. Her father works harvesting blackberries as a day laborer, and her mother weaves traditional Mayan textiles. Even though they want the best for their daughter, they cannot afford to pay for her $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Jessica recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Jessica a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“With the help of this program, I am ready to do anything possible to help my daughter grow better,” says Jessica’s mother.