“I just want to have a healthy baby,” says the mother of Marvin, a two-month-old baby boy who lives with his parents and six siblings in Guatemala.
“Marvin has no access to breast milk or formula. His mother says that after having six children over 17 years, she simply does not have enough breast milk left,” says our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Marvin is always crying because he is hungry.”
Because of this lactational failure, Marvin has limited access to nutritious food, which has impeded his development. “Marvin is very underweight for his age, and his height is far below the average as well,” WK says. Marvin’s father works as a day laborer, and doesn’t earn enough to afford formula. Without intervention, Marvin is not only at risk for acute malnutrition, but also starvation.
For $1,016, Marvin can receive treatment to avoid the adverse effects of lactation failure. “This treatment will supply Marvin with the formula he needs to grow and develop well, both mentally and physically,” WK explains.
WK also has a program for his mother in order to ensure that this treatment will produce long term improvements. “His mother will receive education on how to prepare the formula, and our staff will help her prepare for when he starts to make the transition to solid food in a few months,” WK adds. “All in all, this treatment will save Marvin’s life and help him get his health back on track.”