Nutrition & Health

Senahu Maternal and Child Nutrition Project (NARU)

This region, where the villagers primary income was the production of coffee, has suffered the effects of the international coffee crisis more than any other area in Guatemala. Coffee exports declined, leaving these isolated villagers with virtually no work. The rural villagers account for 71 percent of the country's poor population (International Fund for Agriculture Report 2008). In an area that was already very poor, incomes have been greatly reduced.  Many families have only 1 meal a day and diets consist almost exclusively of corn tortillas, rice and tropical fruit. Malnutrition compounds the constant impact of intestinal parasites and contamination of the sole water source. Currently there are only two medical doctors who serve the region with a population of 65,000.

This project, the NARU Nutrition Project, was founded and is managed by Yvonne Sinclair.  It is also in conjunction with the Senahu Health Department.  It's purpose is to relieve the cause of deaths due to malnutrition. Incaparina, a food supplement replete with protein, iron, vitamins and minerals, is provided to children at high risk (post breast feeding to school age) and pregnant women. Hundreds of cases of severe infant and child malnutrition exist among the 133 Senahu communities. Currently there are 300 children being served, however 500 more children have been identified by the Senahu Health Department as malnourished (mildly or severely). Many village women walk for several hours to receive the powdered Incaparina for their children. Due to the great distances World Link Partners also recently established a transportation fund (for bus fare) for the families (see below).  The Guatemalan government provides Incaparina to children once they are in school.

NARU also provides basic health training, monitoring, and access to family planning for these villagers.

In addition to the provision of Incaparina, and health care, in September 2011 the NARU project  established a clean water system to 133 huts in the Senahu area.

This is a great project for medical clinics/groups. For less than $8,000. a year this project will provide food supplements to 100 malnourished children 3 times a day, every day of the year. It is low cost and highly effective.  Travel can be arranged to these Guatemalan villages for the medical/dental groups who support this project.

COST: $1.37 per child per week ($5.50/month $66.00/year)

TOTAL COST TO SUPPORT 100 CHILDREN: $7,920 per year (Provides Incaparina 3X day every day of the year)

Note: Due to the extensive work involved in establishing this program and expectations and hopes of the villagers, the project requires a minimum of a 1 year commitment.

Two other projects in this geographical area that are in desperate need are:  The Milk Project and a Medical Transport Project.

 

MILK PROJECT:

This project was established this year. The purpose is to provide milk (formula) to newborns who do not have access to their mother's milk. The mother may have died in childbirth, or the new mother's are not able to breast feed their infants.

The cost for this project is $10.00 per week per infant. The number of infants fluctuates, however, depending on the situation and need.  Currently there are between 15 to 20 infants requiring the formula.  

COST: $10.00 per week per infant ($520.00 for one year per infant)  

TRANSPORT FUND:

 Most medical care is free in Guatemala, however, many villagers in this geographical area do not have the funds for bus fare to the clinics and hospitals.   It is difficult to believe that people are so poor that they do not have enough money to pay bus fare for a cataract operation or a cleff palette operation.  In the U.S. we cannot comprehend this extent of poverty.

COST:  Any amount will help provide transportation