World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Catalina Sapón was born in the village of Nimasac in the municipality of San Andrés Xecul. In her village she is a mother peer counselor who hands down the knowledge she has received thanks to the community education strategy implemented by UN agencies (WFP, Unicef, UNV, PAHO, FAO and UNFPA). This strategy, supported by the MDG Fund, aims to reduce chronic malnutrition rates among children under three years of age, promote good feeding practices and child care in 44 communities of the Totonicapán Department.
 

Catalina is the mother of two boys and a girl. She became involved immediately after the strategy was introduced in the communities. Thanks to her training, her charisma and commitment, she has been dedicated to motivate other women to participate in groups of mother peer support.
 

Catalina’s training includes breastfeeding and complementary feeding, hygiene, use of public health services, among others. Mothers bring their children to monitor their growth and for a medical check-up, and in exchange they receive fortified-complementary food ration for their children.
 

Health services include pre-natal care, vaccinations, and vitamins for pregnant women and children, growth monitoring and supplementary food, all for free.

 

Gradually the knowledge spreads throughout the entire community. The experience and the positive result of the new practices are increasingly attractive for mothers in the community.

 

There are other women like Catalina who are empowered with knowledge to support other women in their community. They have reinforced their traditional breastfeeding and infant feeding practices and noticed that their children are growing very healthy. Thus mother peer counselors are also a guide, and a role model to follow.