Fight Rising Malnutrition in Rural Guatemala

Step into Pachichiac, a community of Tecpán Chimaltenango. Johana, a dedicated nutrition technician, struck up a conversation with Doña Lidia in a local store one morning in February 2023 about the Nutrition Program. A chance meeting, fraught with concern and hope, was about to launch an extraordinary journey.

 Doña Lidia's eyes betrayed her worry as she confided in Johana about her precious daughter, Azucena of one year and 8 months. The health center's words hung heavily in the air – Azucena's growth was faltering. Her petite frame was a testament to a silent struggle that demanded urgent attention. The words "she was still lacking" echoed in Doña Lidia's mind, a stark reminder of the uphill battle they faced.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Johana and the Wuqu’ Kawoq | Maya Health  team sprang into action. The urgency to break the shackles of malnutrition and stunting was palpable.

In the heart of Azucena's modest home, the transformation unfolded. The first meeting marked a pivotal moment, where numbers on the growth chart painted a grim reality – Azucena's height-for-age indicator stood at a mere 70 cm, a stark representation of her battle against stunted growth. However, this wasn't the end of the story, but rather the beginning of a narrative fueled by resilience.

Month after month, Johana visited Azucena and her family. Guided by a shared vision of triumph over adversity, they charted a path to healthier days. With the simplest resources, they revolutionized Azucena's diet, embracing the generosity of her surroundings, including peaches, broad beans, corn, and oranges in their dishes, accompanied by the nutritious embrace of broccoli, bananas, and an infinity of herbs. Even seasonal fruits like plums and jocotes joined the feast.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, a change was brewing. Azucena's journey was one of perseverance, a testament to the power of dedication and collaboration. The most recent evaluation brought news that shone like sunlight through the leaves: a growth spurt had boosted Azucena's height to 80 cm. Doña Lidia's heart was filled with pride and joy. The collaborative duo between Johana and Doña Lidia had achieved a transformation, rewriting Azucena 's trajectory.

César, born in the remote village of  La Esperanza, faced critical challenges in his early months. He was born at a very low birth weight and his mother, Doña Romelia, struggled to produce breast milk for her first child. As a result, she decided to feed him formula. But it became increasingly difficult to afford the formula and provide the feedings her son required. A concerned community member connected the family with a Wuqu’ Kawoq nutrition technician, who enrolled César in our Family-Centered Nutrition program in February, his diagnosis was acute malnutrition.

In addition to providing formula to supplement César’s diet, nutrition technician Blanca Romero partnered with Doña Romelia, offering counseling on the importance of breastfeeding and some approaches for doing so. Finally, in April, Romelia was able to breastfeed César again and his nutritional status improved greatly. Between February and May, his height increased from 53 cm to 61 cm and his weight increased from 3.1 kg to 7 kg. 

César continues to grow and has become more interactive.  He enjoys Blanca's monthly visits to his home because he loves to swing on the scale that she uses to weigh him! He's is starting to babble and interact more with other people, both promising signs in his ongoing development. 

A group of mothers gathered for a special cooking class were greeted by our nutrition team, who had prepared the ingredients for the day's recipe: Rice Pancakes with Chipilin. The star of the dish, the chipilin leaves, had been carefully sourced from the nearby fields, ensuring their freshness and quality.

Led by Wuqu’ Kawoq’s Nutrition Program Manager, Lily, the class began with an introduction to chipilin and its significance in Central American cuisine. Chipilin, a spinach-like leafy green native to the area, is featured in many Guatemalan dishes, such as Tamalitos de Chipilin, and is a classic complement for mainstays like tortillas. It's a good source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, and fiber. The mothers assembled for the workshop listened intently, their eyes lighting up with curiosity and anticipation. They shared stories of their childhood memories, recalling their own mothers and grandmothers using chipilin in various dishes.

With Lily’s guidance, the mothers started their culinary adventure. They washed their hands and put on aprons, ready to dive into the world of flavors and textures. Laughter and conversation filled the room as they exchanged tips and stories about their cooking experiences.

As the batter rested, Lily offered information about the benefits of eating a diverse range of foods, including fruits and vegetables;, how to complement infants’ breastfeeding with locally-available foods after six months; and the importance of proper hygienic practices in food preparation.

With the skillet heated and a touch of oil added, it was time to cook the pancakes. The mothers carefully spooned the batter onto the sizzling surface, forming round shapes. Finally, the Rice Pancakes with Chipilin were ready for the moms to bring home and share with their families!

At Wuqu' Kawoq, we  recognize the power and importance of incorporating culinary traditions and locally-sourced foods and cooking together to promote a positive learning environment to help mothers find ways to support their children’s nutrition. 

We are thrilled to share the news that our Research Fellow Dr. Gabriela Montenegro is one of seven talented scientists honored with the 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World! What a great way to celebrate International Women's Day! 

Among other things, Dr. Montenegro, a nutrition expert, leads our work investigating the impact of daily egg consumption on infant growth and development in rural Guatemala. The Saqmolo’ Project (named for the word “egg” in the Mayan language of Kaqchikel) is looking at whether children who receive an egg each day in their diets in addition to other recommended nutritional supplements fare significantly better in growth and development. Work like this helps the government and organizations like ours understand what works best in the fight against malnutrition.

After studying in Guatemala, the US, the Netherlands, and Germany, Dr. Montenegro returned to Guatemala to realize her dream of working as a researcher focused on community health in her home country. She is excited to have the opportunity to foster collaborative, science-based research to shift policies and create effective practices to improve health outcomes. 

“We are one Guatemala, and we have to work together for changes, make our contributions as citizens,” she said. “We at Wuqu’ Kawoq are committed to doing this.”

Links:

• Gabriela Montenegro-Bethancourt Receives Distinguished Award
• Local context is key to nourishing children, says specialist