Malnutrition in Guatemala

Each and every one of the public health topics is very important and people from all over the world are faced with them on a daily basis, even in the United States. However, I chose to look into malnutrition because it is so important for children and families to have the food and nutrition they need to live a healthy life. You see on television about children from other countries that are suffering from disease and infections and body growth due to the lack of nutrition that they need to have a strong and healthy immune system to fight off illnesses and to develop normally and it truly breaks my heart and I just want to do something to help. I have a big heart and I love to help people in anyway that I can, rather it is donating money, collecting and donating food, or helping in clothes drives. It may just be a little that I am giving, but I hope that I am helping someone who truly needs it.
I looked into how children are suffering from malnutrition in Guatemala. According to UNICEF Representative in Guatemala, Gonzalez-Regueral, half of the country's children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Due to the severe malnutrition the children have lower IQ scores and stunted growth. The main reason for the stunted growth in the children experts say, is the lack of vital nutrients during the critical period of development from conception to age 2. Peter Rohloff, an American doctor who runs a group of medical clinics in rural Guatemala says, children are at least six to eight inches shorter than they should be (Gowen, 2010). Also, children suffer from impaired cognitive function and lower IQ, which shows that when the children grow up they are more likely to drop out of school and have little potential in economic success later on in life which just continues the cycle of poverty and the lack of food needed to live.
"If you want to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala this is how you do it: Feed kids and feed them early before they get malnourished," Rohloff said (Gowen, 2010). Here is Rohloff suggestions to help with the issue of malnutrition. He encourages mothers to breast feed and begin supplement food at six months,
he teaches mothers how to use Incaparina, a locally made corn gruel fortified with vitamins and minerals that needs to be mixed with just the right amount of water, however the mixture will not work and can even be harmful if it is too diluted or used with unclean water (Gowen, 2010). He also suggested a supplement called "Plumpy Doz, a ready-to-use sugary peanut paste with milk powder and vitamins. However, due to not having a local Plumpy Doz manufacturer getting the product shipped in can be a hassle and expensive (Gowen, 2010). For nutritional intervention to be most effective, he said, it has to be done before the age of two. "Unfortunately, most programs in Guatemala are geared to school-aged kids but by the time they get to school it's too late," he said (Gowen, 2010).

What Dr. Peter Rohloff talked about is very important for all children in the world. This information has inspired me and something that I will carry with me throughout this program and in my future work. I want to make sure that children are receiving the adequate amount of nutrition they need to function and develop normally. I want the children to have a chance to grow and learn and to use their imaginations. All children deserve the chance to make something of themselves and when they are not receiving their daily nutrients they suffer in the classroom and they are more prone to common illnesses. I would love to start a program within my community at some point to help children and families receive the help they need to make sure they have a hot meal everyday.  I also, think that you should start teaching of the importance with young soon- to-be mothers and offer them with resources.Every one hears of other countries suffering, but they sometimes forget that they are children right in front of them that are suffering as well.

Gowen,G, & Martelli, J. (2010). Severe Stunting: Twelve Years Old Going on Five. Retrieved from
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/malnutrtion-severe-stunting-guatemala-children/story?id=12381731

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/guatemala_48087.html