CABEI grant provides food aid to vulnerable population in Guatemala

Guatemala City, June 15, 2021.- In order to provide food and improve the health of children and women in vulnerable conditions, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) made a donation of US$4,000 to the Selva Virgen Ecological Foundation to support the development of the Food Assistance Program for Malnourished Children residing in the community of La Dignidad, in the department of Escuintla.

"It is a reality that COVID-19 has affected our countries in different sectors and food security has been no exception, reducing families' sources of income and thus their access to basic foodstuffs. CABEI will continue to join efforts and support these types of initiatives that seek to improve people's wellbeing," commented CABEI Executive President, Dr. Dante Mossi.

These resources will be used to provide daily rations of pasteurized goat milk to children and mothers, prioritizing their nutritional level. The program currently serves about 100 children; however, the goal is to increase the population to 400 this year.

The donation was presented by CABEI Director for Guatemala, Mr. Hugo Roberto Martínez Rebulla, who commented, "We are pleased to support actions aimed at improving children's nutritional health and we are eager to follow the positive advances that will be generated by this project. This donation also supports economic reactivation, since part of the milk is purchased from local producers, which generates income and jobs throughout the production chain".

The program is supported by the Secretariat of Food and Nutritional Security (SESAN) and the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) who, together with the foundation, perform daily monitoring of the project, confirming that this milk has nutritional qualities and high quality protein which is reflected in the improvement of weight and height of children who have been served to date.