The Patiño Foundation strives to fight child malnutrition in Bolivia. Every year, more than 2,000 malnourished children receive free treatment at our Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto.
By responding to the emergency of chronic malnutrition and obesity in children, this project ensures a healthier future for the younger generations of Bolivia. By supporting this action, you contribute to building a Bolivia where every child has the right to grow up healthy and develop to their full potential.
Child malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Bolivia. 16% of children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, while 10.1% are overweight or obese.
Chronic malnutrition limits children’s physical and cognitive development. It leads to stunted growth, motor skill difficulties and learning disorders, compromising their chances of academic and professional success.
A malnourished child is more vulnerable to infectious diseases, which compromises their long-term survival. This situation creates a cycle of intergenerational poverty, where malnourished children become low-productivity adults, thus perpetuating social and economic inequalities.
On the other hand, childhood obesity exposes children to increased risks of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and psychological disorders such as depression and low self-esteem.
These complications affect their physical and mental well-being, limiting their personal and social development. The fight against child malnutrition is therefore an investment in Bolivia’s future.
The Patiño Foundation takes a comprehensive approach to tackling child malnutrition. Our actions are based on three pillars: prevention, treatment and nutritional education.
We run awareness campaigns on the dangers of malnutrition and obesity. In partnership with schools and local communities, we screen children at risk from an early age.
Our teams carry out regular checks on children’s weight and height to detect early signs of malnutrition. This monitoring allows for rapid intervention to avoid long-term complications.
The Infant Nutrition Centre of the Patiño Foundation, located in El Alto, is dedicated to the treatment and prevention of malnutrition. Children are hospitalised for a period of 30 to 100 days, depending on the severity of their nutritional status. Every year, more than 120 children receive intensive care in our centre, where they are given a balanced diet and specialised medical care. We combine cutting-edge medical expertise with human support to ensure the long-term recovery of malnourished children.
To prevent recurrence and ensure a lasting impact, we actively involve parents in the healing process. More than 100 training workshops are organised each year to raise families’ awareness of healthy eating practices. We teach parents how to prepare balanced meals with local and affordable ingredients, while promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Our teams also visit families in their homes to provide customised support, thus ensuring the continuity of good nutritional practices.
We carry out outpatient monitoring for two years after discharge from hospital. Our professionals visit families directly to monitor progress in the health of children who have recovered from malnutrition.
This monitoring helps to prevent recurrence and to maintain constant support for families, thus ensuring long-term recovery.
Every year, we organise more than 100 workshops to help parents provide a balanced diet using local and affordable ingredients.
We also encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, thus contributing to better infant health.
Our Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto provides free care for more than 120 children every year. We offer comprehensive care, including medical treatment, a balanced diet and individual nutritional monitoring.
120 children hospitalised each year at the Albina R. de Patiño Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto
120
100+ training workshops held for parents on balanced nutrition and preventing nutritional deficiencies
100
16% of Bolivian children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, while 10.1% are overweight or obese.
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Support our fight against child malnutrition in Bolivia. Each donation helps fund medical care, training workshops and awareness-raising activities for a lasting impact.
Together, let’s build a healthier future for Bolivian children.
Through the dedication of Sra. Albina R. de Patiño, generations of children have access to essential paediatric care in a space designed for their well-being.
Lic. Carla Torrico
Administrative Director
