2013-09-04
Guatemala fights chronic malnutrition
By Ezra Fieser for Infosurhoy.com
Health workers in rural Guatemala weigh a child, checking for signs of undernourishment. The Central American country has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean, with half of children under age 5 affected. The government, for the first time, has launched a plan to fight malnutrition. (Ezra Fieser for Infosurhoy.com)
In Guatemala’s Western Highlands, where rolling mountains give way to majestic volcanic peaks and lush valleys, a health crisis looms.
Half of children under age 5 in Central America’s most populous country suffer from chronic malnutrition, which causes severe health problems.
“Critical!” said Peter Loach, the country director in Guatemala for Mercy Corps, an aid organization working on the issue.
Guatemala’s child malnutrition rate is the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean and fourth-highest in the world, ranking ahead of sub-Saharan African countries that have long come to symbolize hunger in the public psyche.
The problem worsens year after year, exacerbated by changing weather patterns, natural disasters and a growing population that cannot feed itself.
Now, the government, aid organizations and international institutions are fighting back.
A government program that started earlier this year, “Plan Zero Hunger,” aims to reduce the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in children under age 2 by 10%. It also wants to reduce the mortality rate from malnutrition for children under 5 during the next two years, said Julio Alexander Menchú Pérez, spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Development, one of several Guatemalan ministries involved in the program.
Loach called the plan “the strongest initiative by any Guatemalan administration in the last 50 years.”
What’s more, the government is focusing on young children and mothers, providing better access to health care in critical parts of their development. Health workers regularly visit rural communities, checking young children for signs of malnourishment and recommending them to nearby clinics for treatment if needed.
Pérez, however, said the goal is long-term change.
The plan calls for more investment in the rural economy, where hunger and malnutrition are concentrated, boosting food production through training and technical assistance and creating opportunities to break the poverty cycle.
“Extreme poverty and malnutrition are consequences of an undeveloped rural area,” Pérez Molina said in a prepared statement.
More than half of Guatemala’s 14.37 million residents live below the poverty line, and an estimated 13% live in extreme poverty. Poverty is worse in rural Guatemala, where access to services, like health care and education, also is limited.
I did not know that Guatemala had a child malnutrition problem in their country. Half of the children in Guatemala are suffering with malnutrition. This gives me another reason to be thankful for each morning. Ultimately I'm glad that the government are taking action to help with child malnutrition in their country with the "Plan Zero Hunger."
ReplyDeleteI did not know anything about this. I'm really glad that people care about what is going on in different countries and being generous enough to share it. I wouldn't expect that 14.7 million residents are in poverty. That is a ridiculous high number of people. Honestly they should have done something about this a long time ago for people now don't have to suffer for it.
ReplyDeleteTevin Moss
ReplyDeleteMalnutrition is something i dont know much about. This is a big issue, if this happened in America many people would step up to do more about it. After i read this i appreciate life more.I really hope that this problem reduces if not stops!
Rohan Myton
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad that in this day and age of 2013 we are still dealing with high rates of malnutrition and hunger. It's terrible how these kids will grow messed up. We truly do have it good in where we live. We should be grateful for what we have and strive to help those in need. ONE LOVE.
I really don't know what malnutrition is but reading this article lets me know that there is yet another problem the world has. I feel bad for the children in Guatemala and I wish them the best. Also I think its great that the government is fighting back a global situation such as this one. I think that we should all take part in trying to help our fellow man and women and children to. Cause not matter what you may look like or where you come from or what color you are or what language you speak or what you may or may not believe in I say that we are all the same All for one.
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