Castillo Hermanos Announces Significant Progress in Fighting Malnutrition in Guatemala
Huehuetenango, Guatemala - Castillo Hermanos, a Guatemalan multinational company, announced groundbreaking results in its fight against malnutrition at a press conference held on August 26th at the Temis HQ Fontabella Hall. The company’s “Guatemalans for Nutrition” program has demonstrated transformative improvements and will now be expanded with a new investment aimed at eradicating child malnutrition in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.The “Guatemalans for Nutrition” program utilizes a holistic approach, centered around two mobile healthcare units – ”Nutrimóviles” – built in Spain.these units bring primary health and nutrition care directly to remote communities, serving up to 50 patients daily, including pregnant women, women of fertile age, and children under five.
Beyond mobile healthcare, the program encompasses:
An agricultural school: Promoting local productivity and entrepreneurship.
An early childhood development center: Training mothers in best practices. A manufacturing center: Strengthening community technical skills and improving living conditions.
Since 2023, these initiatives have been operating in two regions of Huehuetenango – Region 1 (La Libertad, Cuilco and Democracy) and Region 2 (Santa Eulalia and San Pedro Soloma) – implementing a comprehensive protocol addressing the biological, economic, and environmental causes of malnutrition.
Extraordinary Results Reported:
A study presented by Dr. Sophia Aguirre of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., revealed significant improvements:
Acute malnutrition in children under five decreased from 6% to just 0.38%.
Chronic malnutrition fell by up to 17 percentage points, with an average increase of 0.69 standard deviations in height-for-age.
Over 70% of mothers report normal growth in their children.
Recurring diseases in pregnant women decreased by 76%.
Nutritional consumption per household increased by 17%, alongside improved access to food, savings, and productive projects.
These results surpass global standards, with the program achieving an annual reduction rate of 7.10% - 9.1% in malnutrition.
A Sustainable Transformation:
“The results are not only statistics: they reflect a deep and sustainable transformation in the way thousands of families live, feed and build community,” stated José Silva, Executive Director of Guatemalans for Nutrition.Dr. Aguirre concluded, “There is scientific, quantitative and verifiable evidence that this program is transforming communities in a concrete, measurable and human way.”
The program’s success stems from its comprehensive, community-focused, and multidimensional strategy, addressing health, water access, hygiene, nutrition, and income generation.Castillo Hermanos emphasizes its commitment to social, economic, and environmental development, viewing its work as a lasting legacy for future generations.
