Estuardo is an 8-month-old boy from Guatemala. He 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, Estuardo began malnutrition treatment on October 28, 2016.
Estuardo is an only child, and he lives with his family in an adobe house. He loves to play with his stuffed animal. His father works as a day laborer, and his mother weaves textiles for a living. They cannot afford to pay for this $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Estuardo 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 Estuardo a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“I hope that he grows well, and he is able to grow taller and gain weight so he’s healthy for his age,” says his mother. “In the future, he can go to school and be a professional.”