Antonio is a six-month-old boy from Guatemala. However, he is only the size of a healthy three month old. His mother has had difficulty producing breastmilk, so when he is hungry, she feeds him water or porridge. Recently, Antonio has been losing weight.
Antonio has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition. This means he has little energy to grow, and his immune system is weak and vulnerable to illness. He is also at risk of chronic disease and delayed development. Fortunately, he began malnutrition treatment on December 22, 2016.
Antonio lives with his parents and three older siblings in rural Guatemala. His mother takes care of the family and household, and his father works as a construction assistant. They cannot afford this $512 treatment, so they need our help.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Antonio recover. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age, and his immune system will grow stronger. Community health workers will teach his mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Antonio a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“My dream for my son is that he grows,” says Antonio’s mother, “and that he will study.”
