The staff at nonprofit CARE Guatemala were accustomed to seeing cases of anemia, which affects over half of infants in some rural and indigenous parts of the country. Still, program manager Ruben Jordan was shocked when he encountered eight-year-old Marjorie. Severe chronic anemia had impacted both her cognitive and physical development, leaving her unable to attend school.
“Her hemoglobin levels were critically low, requiring hospitalization,” he said.
Marjorie’s case was severe, but not uncommon. Globally, 1 in 4 people worldwide are estimated to suffer from anemia, a condition in which a lack of healthy red blood cells inhibits oxygen transportation around the body.
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About the author
Catherine Davison
Catherine Davison is an independent journalist based in Delhi, India, writing on issues at the intersection of health, gender, and the environment.