Two-year-old Jose lives with his four siblings and parents in a one-room adobe house in Guatemala. He is curious and happy, and he will play with anything he sees. His father has an inconsistent income as a day worker, and his mother takes care of the household. His parents do not have the resources to give him the healthy and nutritious foods he needs.
“Jose is malnourished,” our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), shares, “meaning that he is far below a healthy height and weight for his age. He has not had access to the protein, calories, and nutrients that he needs to grow normally. Jose could be at risk of stunted neurodevelopment, difficulty focusing, and a greater risk of chronic diseases.”
$512 will cover the cost of the treatment Jose needs to get back on a positive growth trajectory. “Growth monitoring, food supplements, and deworming medication will help Jose gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age,” WK explains, “Treating him now will have a large impact—he will likely be able to reach developmental milestones. This will help him start to develop better both physically and mentally, giving him the chance to live a healthy and productive life, escaping the cycle of poverty and malnutrition that is making him sick.”
Jose’s mother will also receive nutrition classes to learn how to provide Jose with the best diet possible. “This is going to help us a lot, because we have so few resources,” his mother said.