Hermelinda is a 16-month-old girl from Guatemala, but she is only the size of a healthy eight-month-old. Her parents cannot afford to give her the calories, protein, and nutrients she needs to grow. She also experiences frequent illness.
Hermelinda 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, she began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Hermelinda loves to play with her stuffed animals. She lives with her family in a one-room tin house. Her father works as a day laborer, harvesting crops on a local plantation. Her mother raises chickens, cooks for the family, and takes care of Hermelinda. Unfortunately, her parents cannot afford this $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Hermelinda 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 Hermelinda a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“I appreciate the support that my daughter is going to receive,” says Hermelinda’s mother. “I hope to learn a lot about nutrition during our time in the program.”
