Agenzia Fides

Guatemala City (Agenzia Fides) - The phenomenon of acute malnutrition continues to claim victims among the children of Guatemala. One child out of 2 suffers from mulnutrition. According to the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, between January and August 2012, 95 children less than 5 years of age died, while 7926 are malnourished. Of all the children who died, 16 lived in the western department of Quetzaltenango, 11 in Baja Verapaz (the north) and 8 in Huehuetenango (northwest), the remaining in other regions within the country. In 2011, deaths due to malnutrition were 125, compared to 105 in 2010 and 160 in 2009. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 11/09/2012)