Building Health through Proper Nutrition

Posted on Behalf of Kathryn Osborn

While the classic picture of a bony, too-thin child or adult comes to mind when many think of malnutrition, the condition actually has three very different faces: those of the under-nourished, the over-nourished, and the micronutrient deficient.

Under-nutrition, affecting 25% of children world-wide under the age of 5, is related to under consumption of adequate calories. Conversely, over-nutrition is often related to over consumption of daily calories, which can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. Today, 155 million school age children around the world are severely overweight.

The third and final “face” of malnutrition is that of the micronutrient deficient – a condition related to inadequate intake (or absorption) of the right vitamins and minerals needed by the body’s organs to work properly. Such deficiencies are the cause of goiter, scurvy, and some forms of blindness.

Frequently, under-nutrition stems from a lack of money to purchase food of adequate quantity or quality, frequent illnesses (especially HIV and TB) and poor nutritional practices (menu planning).

Poor nutrition of any type is the catalyst for many different health problems. It reduces an individual’s ability to fight diseases and support proper organ function. Unfortunately, each of these also further reduces the ability to absorb essential nutrients – leading to poor nutritional status.

Children International focuses primarily on the issue of under-nutrition within our population. Our agencies address short- and long-term needs of families through 1) supplementary feeding of undernourished children, helping them to gain adequate weight and 2) nutrition education for parents of sponsored children, sharing local recipes which are low cost and highly nutritious.

Kathy Osborn is a Health Officer who works in nutrition and health programs for Children International. She holds a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from George Washington University, with a concentration in global health, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Marine Science from the University of Miami. Prior to joining Children International, Kathy worked in major sustainable livelihood, nutrition, health and education initiatives in Uganda and in Washington, D.C.

Health in Colombia

Posted on Behalf of Marelvis Campo

HEALTH CAMPAIGN BENEFITS 240 CHILDREN IN SANTA ROSA DE LIMA
Medical and dental appointments and preventive talks were given to the community of Santa Rosa de Lima to help minimize the health problems.

Children International–Colombia initiated a medical mission that was held in collaboration with TCC Colombia. TCC’s state-of-the-art mobile medical station came with four doctors and two dentists from the Universidad of Cartagena and Rafael Nuñez. They gave free care to 240 children over a two-day period.


The medical mission took place at the area where Children International’s Service Center #5 is being built. Children attended with their parents. Patients were seen in an organized way. If medications were prescribed they received them on the spot.


This activity was very important for the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima, as this community lacks medical services. The closest medical and dental care is located in other towns that are half an hour away from Santa Rosa de Lima.

Parents of sponsored children expressed their gratitude. "This service was excellent; we are happy that our children are part of Children International because we know that every time they get sick we can take them to the doctor," says Mrs. Grisela Altamar Barrios, mother of sponsored child Edy.


There were also preventive talks to minimize the presence of common illnesses for the children of Santa Rosa de Lima. Information was distributed about the flu, respiratory illnesses, malnutrition and nutritional anemia, which are especially prevalent in the rainy season.

Marelvis Campo is Children International's communications coordinator in Cartagena, Colombia.

A New Perspective on Life

Posted on behalf of Dayanara Reyes

Last Friday I was on my way home from work – in the rain – thinking about all I had experienced during the week. I was reflecting on the people here in the Dominican Republic who have jobs that are hard but pay little. I thought about the sicknesses, malnutrition, lack of basic and personal necessities…and how, in spite of all this, these people remain optimistic, with a desire to better themselves and a hope for change.

All of this came to mind after my bosses asked me to talk about my childhood and how my life has changed since I began my duties, as part of a possible feature for Children International, the organization I work for. Hmmmm…that question demanded an answer, but it was not a simple answer. It was a deep reflection…. God has given me the opportunity to have and experience great things; I’m fortunate to have food, clothing, a good education, a good salary for the work I do and – even better – the ability to help and create in others a consciousness of those who have not been as fortunate as I have.

I’ve often received emails with pictures of people doing special types of work and children who live in extreme poverty; these are intended to cause people to appreciate the things they have in life. Allow me to show you a few pictures that I took myself, and let me share with you the experiences I had the privilege of having last week – experiences that cause you to ask yourself some tough questions.

You’ve probably heard on a number of occasions (as I had) about the “divers” (people who work in garbage dumps); they have no other way to make a living…no other choice. They work without gloves, under terrible conditions and exposed to diseases. I show you these pictures as just a few examples of the many people I saw when we visited the city dump last week. These people scrounge around in the trash for materials they can sell to recyclers – and sometimes they search for food for their families.






I’ve learned a lot since coming to work for Children International. I’ve visited areas of my own city that I never even knew existed. I’ve seen the raw ugliness of poverty, walked down parasite-infested streets where little children run barefoot, listened to crippled children talk about their dreams…and this has created in me a determination to do everything within my power to bring about change.

Dayanara is the communications coordinator for our agency in Santiago. She accompanied the Children International team that was in the Dominican Republic last week. These pictures were taken on the visit to the dump that Sarah wrote about in her post last Wednesday, Down in the Dump.

Happy Mother's Day!

There is no doubt about it, mothers are special. While spending time with my own mom on Mother’s Day, I was thinking about all the moms in our program who unselfishly give their time volunteering. We have thousands of volunteers around the world and without them our program wouldn’t work nearly as well.

Most are women like Mayra Bohórquez. Mayra lives in Guayaquil, Ecuador. With training that she received at her local community center, she learned how to prepare nutritious food with very little money. And now she teaches other moms in the community -- especially those with malnourished children -- how to cook dishes that are inexpensive and healthy.


“If the children don’t like carrots, I show the moms how to make a carrot cake that the children will eat for sure,” Mayra explains.

Mayra’s other volunteer duties include measuring children for their shoe size during gift distributions. But her heart is obviously in her cooking, a job she clearly loves.

“I enjoy sharing my knowledge with family and friends,” Mayra said.

Thanks to all of the moms just like Mayra who help to make our program special!

An Unforgettable Encounter

When I wrote in my February 21 blog that I had never felt truly powerless until I looked into the eyes of a dying child, I hadn’t yet met 8-year-old Diana*.

As part of the team that traveled to Honduras to interview sponsored children and their families, I didn’t plan to spend much time talking to Diana and her mother, María*. Diana had clearly overcome the severe malnutrition that first brought her to Kelly’s attention during his visit to Honduras in 2005. Besides, we were rushed for time and had several interviews to conduct before the end of the day.

I paused nonetheless and greeted Diana in my usual clumsy Spanish. I asked her and her mother a few questions about her previous problems. Diana, all smiles, said she felt fine and enjoyed visiting the center to play hopscotch with her friends. But a glassy look suddenly swelled in María’s eyes and contradicted Diana’s good cheer.

I turned to her mother and asked, “Is Diana completely recovered?” Searching out my eyes, María gazed at me for what seemed like an eternity. Tears streaked her cheeks as she breathed the words...“My daughter has HIV.”

All at once, the world seemed to collapse in around me. I didn’t know what to say. One moment I was talking to a young girl full of joy and happiness, the next minute I was imagining her lifeless body in her mother’s arms. My translator, Jesús, filled in for me while I tried to regain my composure.

Jesús translated fragments of the conversation as I compulsively wiped my eyes. “They only found out about Diana’s case a year ago... Her mother has HIV too...No one else in the community knows...They’ll be expelled if anyone finds out...Diana’s medicine will run out in March....”

I quietly excused myself and went to our van, where I had a bag of toys stowed away. Although I hadn’t planned to give Diana anything, I picked out the best toys I’d brought and placed them delicately into an embroidered bag. I chose a soft, plush bunny, a necklace with a flashing pendant, some colorful pencils and handfuls of candy.

When I returned, both Diana and her mother were smiling. Arturo, the area supervisor, had shared some encouraging words in my absence...the community center would provide a small stipend for Diana’s upcoming medical expenses.

Right then and there, I wanted pick Diana up and take her with me, far away from her infected surroundings. Instead, knowing that there was nothing more to be done at that moment, I showed her the toys I’d picked out and explained why I thought they were the very best.

Diana smiled like a child should...without a care in the world, believing only in the moment and the kindness of a stranger. That, to me, is Honduras.

*Not actual names.

Posted on behalf of Damon Guinn.