The coronavirus has moved through rural Guatemala, as it has across the world, creating new health threats for some of our most vulnerable communities. Jobs and incomes have disappeared, and malnutrition, which was already at devastating levels, is getting worse. The pandemic has overwhelmed the country’s health care system, making it even harder for people with conditions like diabetes and cancer to get the care they need.
The number of children with acute malnutrition in Guatemala has tripled since 2019. Every 30 minutes, a child with acute malnutrition is detected in Guatemala. Prensa Libre 6/5/20
Even before the coronavirus was detected in Guatemala, Maya Health Alliance | Wuqu’ Kawoq and our supporters began mobilizing to protect our communities.