Due to their economic situation, the family’s main (and in many cases only) food source was potatoes grown in their fields. Added to the lack of nutrition was a lack of hygienic cleanliness. The family had no sanitary services or clean water source. Jhonny began to have recurring stomach illnesses leaving him dehydrated and weak. When he wasn’t sleeping, he was crying – a thin weak cry that made his parents wonder if it wouldn’t be better for him to not wake up. His three older siblings began finding the situation intolerable. It was no secret in Pata Rodeo that things were not looking good for Jhonny.

Blass Villca, the Community Health Representative in the area heard about Jhonny. He conferred with Ricarda Quiñones, who works at the local health post, and Daniel Cáceres, the FHI health tecnician assigned to the area. The unanimous decision reached at this meeting – this child would not die.

A detailed analysis of Jhonny’s case was performed. Together, the three health workers and Jhonny’s mother, Nieves Mamani Chojllo, initiated the process of nurturing Jhonny back to health. From the beginning of the intervention, the FHI technician worked on a personal basis with the father and mother regarding the importance of Jhonny’s life and the future which awaits him. On a technical level, the health workers began follow up on Jhonny’s vaccines, nutritional intake, and the level of hygiene practiced in the home. Slowly, Nieves became integrated into the woman’s group in the community where mother’s receive education about health issues and training in basic nutrition and sanitation. A component of the women’s group is food aid commodities provided to pregnant women and mothers with a child aged three or under. These commodities help provide nutrition as well as incentive for women to participate in the meetings and to bring their children in for vaccinations and growth monitoring. Nieves’ active participation in the mother’s group marked the beginning of notable progress in Jhonny’s health. It also marked a change in the family’s attitude towards their newest member. They were amazed at the difference in his appearance and behavior. The family became very interested in his progress and began concerning themselves more and more with his well-being.

“The situation of the family while Jhonny was sick was very sad. There was a lot of dissension among family members, no one wanted to help out with Jhonny and his mother was often criticized. In these last months Jhonny has become the joy of the home, everyone watches out for him and looks after his health.” FHI Health Technician, Daniel Cáceras

At six months, Jhonny weighed 15 pounds. Seven months later he had gained only 2.5 pounds. When Nieve joined the mother’s group, Jhonny’s weight began to steadily increase. He is now almost two years old and is two feet, four inches tall and weighs nearly 25 pounds. Jhonny’s progress is evident at many levels.

“Jhonny now has a stable weight. His motor skills have improved rapidly so that they are now normal for his age as can easily be seen by his activeness. His physical appearance has also changed. His hair has changed in color and texture. He smiles now and his eyes reflect life.”
FHI Regional Health Coordinator, Zulema Torres

Before Jhonny’s interventions, his mother was at a loss as to what to do for her son. She had never experienced the degree of illness that nearly cost Jhonny his life. But the son who seemed so frail has become strong and healthy through her nurturing.

“Many times it seemed like my son wanted to die. He always had diarrhea. But then I went to the meetings for mothers in the community and I learned things that I should cook for him and how to care for him. I felt hopeless before. Now I know how to meet my son’s needs.”
Jhonny’s mother, Nieves Mamani Chojllo

FHI Bolivia currently works with 487 women and 493 children aged five
and younger in the Chayanta Province of the Department of Potosí
to improve health and nutrition and to improve access to
health services and clean water sources.