Meet Jostin, an eight-month-old boy who lives with his family in the highlands of Guatemala.
Jostin is malnourished. He is far below the normal size for his age, and is prone to frequent sickness due to a weakened immune system. As a result, he has a poor appetite, is often dangerously dehydrated and has lost considerable weight.
Jostin’s mother is his primary caregiver, while his father works in the fields. While both parents work hard and do the best they can to provide for Jostin, they don’t earn enough money to afford the basic elements of a daily balanced diet: eggs, fruit and vegetables.
If Jostin lets his malnutrition go unchecked, he could face serious consequences down the line, such as a low IQ, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Luckily, there is a way to help. For $512, Jostin can receive growth monitoring, micronutrient and food supplementation and deworming medication.
When Jostin receives treatment, he will likely gain weight, grow taller and catch up with other children his age. His immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, preventing him from having any more life-threatening situations with diarrhea, fevers and cough. His parents will also receive support to feel empowered to give Jostin the diet he needs to grow and develop healthily.
Intervention now will help prevent any future devastating effects of malnutrition, and will give Jostin the chance to live a healthy and productive life.