Fight Rising Malnutrition in Rural Guatemala

At Wuqu' Kawoq, we provide comprehensive care for patients in Guatemala throughout their lifespan. Our team of physicians, nurses, health educators, community health workers, pharmacists, and drivers collaborates in rural communities to ensure that patients receive the education, continuous care, resources, and emotional support they need to achieve optimal health and well-being. We also collect data on patient health and experiences, which our team analyzes to improve care outcomes.

One of our key initiatives is the Family-Centered Nutrition Program. Malnutrition and stunting in early childhood not only pose immediate health threats but also compromise future education, employment, and health prospects. Climate change exacerbates this issue, leading to droughts, floods, and storms that devastate crops.

To tackle this critical challenge, our Family-Centered Nutrition Program team works with caregivers of 800 children each year during the first 1,000 days of life to support healthy growth and development. Our nurses and nutrition technicians work closely with families to monitor key developmental milestones and identify sources of healthy, diverse nutrition using locally available foods.

Additionally, we collaborate with various government, business, and nonprofit partners to develop sustainable, comprehensive solutions that address the systemic factors driving this national crisis. You are an integral part of this effort—thank you for partnering with us in the fight against rising malnutrition in rural Guatemala.

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of chronic childhood malnutrition in the world, exceeding 70% in some indigenous, rural areas. Recent events, including global inflation, have amplified the problem. According to a December 2022 report from UN OCHA on Guatemala, “Food and nutrition needs are at a historical high.” In February 2023, La Hora reported that the costs of basic foods in Guatemala have increased 17% over the past year.

Wuqu’ Kawoq is working with families in rural Guatemala who are most vulnerable to these trends to help reverse child malnutrition and prevent its potential lifelong effects. Our Family-Centered Nutrition Program works one-on-one with families to develop personalized approaches to promote their children’s healthy growth and development. The program includes growth monitoring, in-home nutrition counseling, vitamin and food supplements, and group education classes.

In the communities where the program operates, chronic malnutrition has dropped by 20-40%. Alfredo's story is part of the difference that donors are making: 

Doña Yolanda was concerned that her son Alfredo was underweight, but she was reluctant to contact the local health post for help. Based on her previous experiences, she feared she would be scolded about Alfredo’s poor nutritional status. Then she encountered Blanca Romero, a nutrition technician from Wuqu' Kawoq. Blanca explained that she would visit the family in their home and work with Doña Yolanda in the family language of Mam to create strategies so Alfredo could grow and develop. Doña Yolanda agreed to participate and began making changes to her son’s diet, reducing the use of instant meals and unhealthy snacks and adding supplements and healthier snacks like bananas. Doña Yolanda says that she now feels hopeful that her son will continue to grow and develop so he will be healthy and better able to study and learn in school.

You are making a meaningful difference in the lives of Guatemalan children in rural areas, and we are so grateful!