Darvin is an 18-month-old boy from Guatemala. His parents have trouble affording foods rich in calories, protein, and nutrients. 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, Darvin began malnutrition treatment on November 24, 2016.
Darvin lives with his family in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof. He is always playing soccer, and his mother thinks he will become a famous soccer player. His father works as a day laborer on a bean plantation, and his mother weaves traditional Mayan textiles. They cannot afford this $512 treatment.
While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, and food supplementation will help Darvin 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 Darvin a chance to grow healthy and strong.
“I am so content to be able to receive food supplements for my son, so I can feed him better,” says Darvin’s mother. “That way he can be a little boy that grows and develops well!”