Guatemala has the highest rates of chronic child malnutrition, or stunting, in in the Western hemisphere. In rural areas, the rate of stunting often exceeds 80%. For a number of years, Wuqu’ Kawoq has been researching and developing effective methods for the treatment and prevention of child malnutrition.
Currently, we work in multiple rural agricultural communities in the departments of Suchitepéquez, Sololá, and Chimaltenango, where we have piloted nutrition programs. All of our programs have as their base the provision of good primary care for children. Additionally, we focus on educating caregivers about breastfeeding, complementary foods, and common childhood illnesses. Our research has shown that education and medical care is not enough, however. In many cases, unemployment and lack of family land holdings create a situation of food insecurity. Therefore, our programs provide universal nutritional supplementation to all children from 6 months of age onward and to all pregnant and lactating women. Our approach is successful; for example in 1 community in Suchitepéquez we reduced the rate of malnutrition from 70% to 35% in just 15 months.
We actively seek opportunities and partnerships to scale up nutrition-related activities. In 2011, we began providing preventative food supplementation to hundreds of children under 2 years of age affected by Tropical Storm Agatha. We are conducting research on the use of alternative food supplements, including lipid-based supplements and ready-to-use supplementary foods, and on the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. We are one of the primary users of new generation nutritional products, such as Nutributter and Plumpydoz, in Guatemala. We provide advice and consulting to other organizations looking to begin their own nutrition programs, and we have prepared a number of nutrition education materials in Kaqchikel and Spanish which are available free of charge upon request.
Beginning in 2012, we began distributing Nutributter to 5,000 children in Sololá under contract from USAID’s International Food Relief Partnership. More details about that specific program can be found here.
Available resources from Wuqu’ Kawoq about Child Malnutrition.
Melvin C, Henretty N, Rohloff P. (2012). Nutributter Manual de Capacitación para Facilitadores. español
Melvin C, Henretty N, Rohloff P. (2012). Nutributter – ¡Un producto nutricional para niños! español
Melvin C, Henretty N, Rohloff P. (2012). ¡Niños comiendo bién! español
Rohloff P et al. (2011). Feasibility of Chispitas as a Treatment for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Rural Guatemala- Report of a Pilot Study. english español
Henretty N, Messmer S. (2011). Guía para Programas de Nutrición. español