Meet Sayda, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala. “Sayda is cared for by her mother and two older brothers,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “When Sayda feels her best, she loves to play with a baby doll given to her by a neighbor. Currently, however, her mom reports that she has been too tired to play.”
Sayda is experiencing the effects of acute malnutrition. “She suffers from a cough, fever, and diarrhea and has been losing weight as a result,” WK reports. “Sayda’s immune system is weak and she has decreased energy.”
Malnutrition can cause long-term damage if it goes untreated. “Over time Sayda’s mental and physical development will be permanently stunted, thus leading to developmental delays and preventing her from reaching her full potential,” WK explains. “Limited brain development and chronic illness will limit her ability to concentrate and succeed in school. Without intervention, in the long term she will have an increased risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as decreased economic success.”
$535 will help Sayda’s family get her health back on track. With this funding, Sayda will receive nutritional supplementation, medication, and growth monitoring to ensure that she is meeting her nutritional needs. These measures will help Sayda reach a healthy height and weight for her age, boost her energy, and bolster her immune system. She will thus be at a lower risk of developing the medical problems she has recently been fighting—such as cough, fever, and diarrhea.
Sayda’s mother will also receive nutritional education to equip her with the skills and knowledge to make healthy choices for the family. This will help Sayda and her siblings maintain their health in the future.
“I’m worried because she has more problems growing than the boys did,” shares Sayda’s mother. “I want her to study when she gets older, find a job and build a better way of life.”
With our support, Sayda’s health will improve and her mother will be able to watch her baby begin to thrive.
