Hospital project

The Hospital Project

The Hospital Project is a project for mal-nourished babies that cannot survive without medical attention and milk. Several of the babies that T.E.S.S. Unlimited finds for the Hospital Project are also awaiting a cleft lip/palate surgery. We find these babies in various ways. Some are found while doing medical evaluations for the Gift of a Smile Project, some are found by our promoters who are looking for babies with a cleft lip and/or palate, some are found by a random phone call to T.E.S.S. Unlimited.

Malnutrition is a major problem here in Guatemala. According to UNICEF data from 2007, Guatemala has the highest percentage of chronically malnourished girls and boys in Latin America, and the fourth highest in the world. UNICEF Representative in Guatemala Adriano González-Regueral notes that half of the country’s children suffer from chronic malnutrition. The problem manifests itself in stunted growth and lowered IQ scores. It is also a major contributor to the death of many children. “One out of two is the average but in indigenous areas, chronic malnutrition can reach 80 per cent total of children under five years of age,” he says.

The Hospital Project takes place in the Nutritional Center at the Obras Sociales de Hermano Pedro in Antigua. The Obras Sociales offers all kinds of medical support and the only requirement is that they receive a donation from the patients. At the hospital they have a fantastic Nutritional Center! This center is run by Nurses and Pediatricians who offer around the clock care. During their stay at the hospital the babies are well taken care of and closely monitored for progress/regression. It is truly amazing the change that occurs in babies once they are brought into the Nutritional Center. Check out some of the pictures, you won’t believe the difference! T.E.S.S. Unlimited offers full financial support for each baby we bring to the Nutritional Center. This includes all milk, lab costs and any other medical care needed. We also provide transportation for the parents to visit their child each week. If you would like to help these babies really need it! We can provide you with photos so you can see the progress of the children in the project. This project is much smaller than our others but still very important! The average cost to support a child in the Hospital Project is approximately $ 100,- a month (this price is without surgery!). For more information on how to get involved please email us at tessa@tessunlimited.nl!!!