{"id":159177,"date":"2025-04-21T17:48:13","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T15:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/?p=159177"},"modified":"2025-04-21T18:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T16:08:01","slug":"program-proposes-strategy-to-fight-malnutrition-in-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efecomunica.efe.com\/en\/program-proposes-strategy-to-fight-malnutrition-in-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Program proposes strategy to fight malnutrition in Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guatemala City, Apr 21 (EFE).<\/strong>\u2013 A privately-run social initiative known as Guatemaltecos por la Nutrici\u00f3n<\/strong><\/a> is proposing a comprehensive strategy to combat malnutrition in Guatemala<\/strong>, a crisis that affects one in every two children<\/strong> in the country.<\/p>\n

Fighting Malnutrition in Guatemala with a New Approach<\/h3>\n

Researcher and engineer Ramiro Bola\u00f1os<\/strong>, president of the think tank Factorial Libertatis<\/strong>, said the initiative could serve as a viable solution<\/strong> to Guatemala\u2019s longstanding hunger crisis. According to official figures<\/strong>, malnutrition in Guatemala impacts half of all children<\/strong>, making it one of the country\u2019s most urgent public health issues.<\/p>\n

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Photograph of Ramiro Bola\u00f1os, president of the think tank Factorial Libertatis, speaking during an interview with EFE in Guatemala City (Guatemala). EFE\/ Danilo Ramirez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guatemaltecos por la Nutrici\u00f3n: A Model for the Nation<\/h3>\n

Bola\u00f1os and his organization observed the project firsthand in Huehuetenango<\/strong>, a department in western Guatemala bordering Mexico.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe first thing that caught our attention was the cheerful faces of the staff who welcomed us,\u201d Bola\u00f1os said. He emphasized that the team behind the initiative<\/strong> \u201cknow they\u2019re transforming lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Launched by business conglomerate Castillo Hermanos<\/strong>, the program has invested $15 million<\/strong> to combat food insecurity. It operates through mobile camps<\/strong>, which have been active since April 2023<\/strong> in three municipalities of Huehuetenango.<\/p>\n

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Photograph of Ramiro Bola\u00f1os, president of the think tank Factorial Libertatis, speaking during an interview with EFE in Guatemala City (Guatemala). EFE\/ Danilo Ramirez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early Detection and Comprehensive Care<\/h3>\n

\u201cThere are labs where they measure the children\u2019s height to ensure it’s appropriate. Blood tests are also done to measure iron levels<\/strong>,\u201d Bola\u00f1os explained. This setup allows for early signs of malnutrition to be detected in seconds<\/strong>, facilitating rapid response and care<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So far, over 10,000 health services<\/strong> have been delivered under the program in Huehuetenango.<\/p>\n

A Scalable Solution for Malnutrition in Guatemala<\/h3>\n

Bola\u00f1os described the program\u2019s \u201ccomprehensive\u201d model<\/strong> as one that could be replicated and scaled across all 340 municipalities<\/strong> in Guatemala.<\/p>\n

With 59% of the country\u2019s 18 million residents living in poverty<\/strong>, malnutrition remains a persistent challenge. Over the past five years, at least 200 children have died due to malnutrition<\/strong>, although experts suggest the real figure could be significantly higher due to underreporting and limited data collection<\/strong>, especially during the administration of Alejandro Giammattei (2020\u20132024). EFE<\/strong><\/p>\n

This content is published with the support of Cervecer\u00eda Centro Americana.<\/em><\/p>\n