Soyapango, El Salvador

Today in the midst of a waiting room filled to bursting at the Clinica El Carmelo in Soyapango, El Salvador, I met 26-year-old Glenda who is pregnant with her second child. She has been taking prenatal vitamins, distributed through Vitamin Angels’ Thrive to Five program, since early in her pregnancy. Her 4-year-old daughter, Ashley is receiving regular vitamin A supplementation, part of our Operation 20/20 program, through the clinic as well.

Glenda reports that she is feeling strong and healthy and that her daughter is as well. She tells us her diet is mostly comprised of beans, rice, cheese, some fruit and lots of water. When asked if she had modified her diet when she became pregnant, she smiled widely and said the she is simply hungrier! (An increased appetite during pregnancy can be a great sign of a thriving baby.)

Glenda plans to breastfeed her new baby for 18 months and will continue taking her prenatal vitamins during the nursing period as she did with Ashley. She notes that she felt good throughout her previous breastfeeding period.

I asked Glenda what was the most important to her for her children and without hesitation, she stated that number one she wanted God to bless her to be a good mother and that she wanted her children to be strong and to have to opportunity to grow up to be healthy adults. Glenda finished saying that she wanted Vitamin Angels and all of our supporters to know that she is so thankful that we are helping her and her children.

Vitamin Angels is reaching 98,500 Salvadoran children under-5 with vitamin A and an additional 1,301 mothers with prenatal vitamins through our partnership with implementation partners Map International and local grantee, FUSAL.