Ana is a three-month-old baby girl from Guatemala. Her mother cannot produce sufficient breast milk for her child, and cannot afford formula as a substitute. She thought that her daughter looked normal, and did not realize how underweight her daughter was. As a result, Ana is failing to meet normal growth markers and is far below the average height and the average weight for her age—she is still the size of a newborn. At such a young age, malnutrition is dangerous.
Ana is the youngest of 5 kids, and lives with her siblings and parents in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof and dirt floor. Her mother works at home, cooking and cleaning, and her father works as a day laborer, only receiving an income on days when there is work. They have a small plot of land where they cultivate a few crops, but can never make enough money to fully support the family. Even if they spent every cent of their income, they would not be able to afford this life-saving treatment.
Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying the baby with formula and the mother with health education, Ana will receive the calories she needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one education with Ana’s mother will prepare her for when Ana needs to start eating solid food, as well as help her watch for further signs of malnutrition and other illness. Ana’s immune system will strengthen and she will grow up to be a healthy and energetic baby.
Ana’s mother says, “Now that I know that this situation is worrisome, I want my daughter to grow well and have good development so she can study and learn many good things.”