Measuring the Greenhouse Success! Week 1

Boy’s height being measured by Federico at Chajmaic health center

We are very grateful to the dedication and expertise of our agricultural engineer, Federico Arriola Cuéllar.  He knows the importance of measuring the height and weight of the participants – especially the children – at the beginning, middle, and end of this greenhouse pilot project, and, when the nearby municipal health center was initially not compliant, he persevered and got the necessary resources to achieve this task.  We are convinced that we have the right team on the job!

These are aspects that will be measured pre- and post in relationship to the greenhouse pilot project: sense of hunger, stomachache, fatigue, dizziness, muscle weakness, infections and delayed healing – on a scale of 1 to 10.  According to Ricardo, this will be conducted on Ricardo’s next visit to the village of Chajmaic (April 4-7, 2022) with the aid of Lety Gómez, who lives in the village, as she was implemental in conducting the needs assessment that Sowing Opportunities underwent in August 2020.

Federico made repeated efforts to gain participation of the Health Center in Fray, el Centro de Salud Tipo B, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, and with the collaboration of the Ministry of Health in Guatemala City and the Health Center in Fray, they were able to achieve the initial measurements by bringing medical professionals and devices to Chajmaic. 

Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas health center, March 30, 2022

Take a look at the results:

Height measurement device is brought to Chajmaic health center by health professionals. Here the professionals stand with Federico as the children look on, March 30, 2022

The height measurement device is brought to the participants’ homes, where the children – small and large – are measured:

Boy’s height is measured by a medical professional from the Fray health center
Teens’ heights are also measured by the health professional.
Children of all ages participated in having their height being measured.

 

 

 

 

Boy’s height being measured by medical professional in Chajmaic, March 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

Doctor visits inhabitants of a home, explaining why he’s in the village and the inhabitants smile because this is the first time a doctor has ever visited, March 30, 2022

Not only are children’s heights measured – the children are also weighed.  This is the first time they have experienced this, and they are both delighted and curious!

      Boy getting weighed by doctor, March 30, 2022
Boy, delighted, getting weighed by doctor with brother looking on, March 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moreover, the greenhouses are advancing, and now they have plastic coverings, held up by iron arches:

Participant with greenhouse w plastic covering and iron arches, Week 1