Eradicate Child Malnutrition in Argentina

Pata Pila — IMPACT REPORT
Nutrition & Early Childhood Program — Pata Pila

1. Executive Summary

Pata Pila works in remote Indigenous and rural communities in northern Argentina, where malnutrition is a daily threat for children under five.
Through an integrated model combining medical care, nutrition, early childhood development, family support, and safe water access, we have reached thousands of families in the past 10 years.

This report summarizes the key impact achieved thanks to supporters like you.

2. Nutrition & Early Childhood — Key Results

• 10,501 children screened for the first time
• 3,120 children enrolled in active nutritional treatment
• 1,108 children fully recovered and discharged
• 650 pregnant women supported
• 48,530 kg of milk delivered
• 78,291 professional health interventions
• +1.8 million km traveled by mobile health teams

These results reflect weekly work in communities that often lack access to medical care, transportation, or clean water.

3. Our Comprehensive Approach

Malnutrition is never only about food.
Pata Pila addresses its multiple causes through:

Medical and nutritional treatment

Early childhood stimulation

Breastfeeding and family education

Support in accessing healthcare and documentation

Safe water projects

Home visits and interdisciplinary monitoring

This long-term approach allows children to recover and stay healthy.

4. Safe Water Access

Waterborne diseases are one of the main triggers of malnutrition.
To break that cycle, we have built:

• 19 Safe Water Access Projects
(including wells, rainwater harvesting cisterns, and water distribution systems)

These infrastructures reduce diarrhea, dehydration, and infections—direct factors in child malnutrition.

5. Early Childhood Development

Our Montessori-based Early Childhood Centers support healthy development and learning:

• 70 children graduated
• 40 children currently enrolled in courses

Children arrive at school with better language, motor and socio-emotional skills, breaking long-term cycles of vulnerability.

6. SCHOOL PROJECT — POZO ARAOZ

Education is also a key factor in fighting malnutrition and extreme vulnerability.
Together with the community and the Ministry of Education, Pata Pila built the new Pozo Araoz School, which now provides safe access to education for children who previously walked long distances every day.

The new building includes:

3 classrooms

Kindergarten, primary and secondary spaces

A secure environment for learning, nutrition and community activities

53 students enrolled in 2025

The school became a central place where children learn, eat, and grow safely — a huge step forward for long-term health and development.

7. Human Stories

Mónica — Misión Chaqueña
Her baby arrived at Pata Pila with seizures and nutritional risk. After receiving continuous care, she recovered. Today, Mónica works in our team helping other mothers.

Ricardo — Tres Palmeras
After participating in vocational training, he found stable work and improved his family's living conditions, showing how nutrition and livelihoods go hand in hand.

8. Why Continued Support Matters

A child’s recovery takes 6–18 months of weekly follow-ups.

Most families live 40–80 km from the nearest health center.

Water scarcity and contamination still affect hundreds of households.

Your support provides fuel for mobile clinics, milk for children, medical care, safe water access, and early childhood development.

9. Thank You

Where Pata Pila arrives, malnutrition decreases, children recover, and communities grow stronger.
Thank you for making this possible.

Links:

• New project: we built a school.
• Donate Now

Submitted by: Fundación Pata Pila
Reporting Period: January – April 2025
Summary of Progress

Between January and April 2025, Fundación Pata Pila provided nutrition care and health support to over 1,300 children and 1,000 mothers across 76 communities in northern Argentina. Our mobile and community-based programs focused on early childhood nutrition, maternal health education, and access to basic services for Indigenous families living in structural poverty.

This quarter was marked by major challenges, including extreme weather and the theft of vital medical supplies. Despite this, our teams reached hundreds of children, conducted more than 500 nutritional assessments, delivered supplements like LEP and Fine Bless, and facilitated workshops on parasite prevention and healthy eating.
Key Impacts

177 children attended in Embarcación in April, with 12% showing signs of acute or chronic malnutrition

.

522 children discharged with full recovery since the start of the program

.

+2,250 food kits and 26,000 kg of milk distributed annually.

Stories of Change

Cleotilde, age 2
Cleotilde from La Loma III has been under our care for several months due to chronic malnutrition. In April, her weight decreased due to the lack of food supplements (ATLU) and family food insecurity. Her mother, Marina, is actively participating in our educational sessions. We demonstrated how to prepare Fine Bless correctly—a supplement previously rejected due to texture issues—and Cleotilde accepted it again

.

Matías, age 3
Matías lives in El Algarrobito. He had symptoms of stomach pain and fatigue due to exposure to contaminated materials. After antiparasitic treatment and continued monitoring, his condition improved. Our team continues to support the family in maintaining hygiene practices

.
Challenges Faced

In March, flash floods blocked access to several rural communities, limiting health visits and delaying treatment

..

Next Steps

Resume nutrition workshops and supplement delivery in communities affected by logistical delays.

Advocate for improved public services in rural areas, especially safe water access and emergency transport.

Thank You

Your continued support through GlobalGiving allows us to reach those most in need, restore children’s health, and strengthen the capacity of mothers as caretakers. We invite you to follow us on social media or visit www.patapila.org for more updates.

Links:

• Donate Now