A person born in Argentina may expect to live more than seven decades – or 25,000 days. The first 1,000 days of human development, from conception to two years of age, are of utmost importance to have a healthy growth, develop the ability to think and communicate, master emotional and social skills, and reach old age, as long as adequate care and stimulation are received. In particular, improving nutrition throughout such an essential stage opens a “window of opportunity” to promote the achievement of an individual’s full present and future potential.
With this aim, FIDEC, in collaboration with FUNCEI, carries out the campaign Primeros 1000 Días de Alimentación para una Vida Sana (First 1,000 Days of Nutrition for a Healthy Life) at Dr. Arturo Illia Rural Hospital in El Sauzalito (province of Chaco). Almost 120 births are registered there per year. Given the socioeconomic context, a significant number of children under 1 year of age are fed with unfortified or unmodified cow's milk once breastfeeding has been interrupted. This can harm infants’ health, as cow’s milk is low in iron and rich in saturated fat and other nutrients. Moreover, unlike human milk, it does not protect against infections. Another common condition in this area is anemia during pregnancy.
Thanks to the support of all of FIDEC’s contributors, in November 2021, FUNCEI´s medical team involved in the campaign, together with the doctors in charge of it, Micaela Sogga and Clara Villaverde, started the planned healthcare interventions, in collaboration with the director and staff of Dr. Arturo Illia Hospital. Some of the activities carried out were:
- Inclusion in the program of 18 children under 2 years of age.
- Health checkups for 38 children, in conjunction with the maternal infant plan team.
- Training of the health team.
- Talks on comprehensive sexual health in high schools (about 40 teenagers aged 13 and over participated).
- Visits to hospitalized children, together with the doctors on duty.
- Distribution of donated materials to the hospital (vacuum cleaner, computers, gloves, tubes, among others).
On the 2021 visit and in July 2022, FIDEC also delivered supplies to the local Hospital to help take care of pregnant women and infants’ nutrition. Aiming at preventing anemia during pregnancy, iron supplements were shipped, which were also administered to newborns. Folic acid and vitamins were also provided, and cans of hypercaloric food were distributed. In addition, pregnancies were monitored by medical staff. To improve infant nutrition, mothers were encouraged to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for six months after birth, and use of appropriately fortified complementary foods was promoted if required. These measures have proven to be effective when applied in a coordinated and timely manner.
Supplies that FIDEC delivered to Dr. Arturo Illia Hospital at El Sauzalito.
To finance these activities, FIDEC used the funds raised at the 2021 charity Open Golf, with the support of many important companies. Besides, they receive economic support from FUNCEI, who organized the seventh Tea Party and Fashion Show in Buenos Aires, in September 2022. Thanks to the collaboration of designer Adriana Costantini and many important corporate sponsors, essential funds were raised to provide these children with a chance at a healthier life.
