On 18 October 2017 in Guatemala, 9-month-old Danilo (in blue) laughs as his brothers, (left-right) Dorian, 4, Denis, 13, and Dylan 6, shower him with kisses inside their home, in Guatemala City, the capital. Danilo, who has Congenital Zika Syndrome and microcephaly, gets the love, attention, care and support he needs from his brothers, parents, relatives, neighbours and community. His brothers include him in their play, and his family takes every opportunity to provide him with a stimulating home environment as part of their daily routine, which they learned at the Neurological Institute in Guatemala City, where Danila goes for therapy and takes part in learning activities, programmes and other support services provided for children with microcephaly.
The first 3 years, or 1,000 days, for all children, – whatever their ability – are fundamental to their development. UNICEF is supporting children across Latin America and the Caribbean affected by Congenital Zika Syndrome and other congenital disorders. In Guatemala, UNICEF is working with Ministry of Health to reinforce health systems to provide adequate support for families, with an emphasis on ensuring that all children with a disability, including during early childhood, receive early intervention in a stimulating environment and are able to realize their right to develop to their full potential.
Sandra, in Guatemala City, has four children (Denis, 13, Dylan, 6, Dorian, 4, and Danilo, 9 months old). Danilo has microcephaly, a congenital disorder caused when Sandra was infected with the Zika virus from a mosquito bite during her pregnancy with Danilo, and which affects his long-term development. Sandra and her husband (Deyvi) did not learn that Danilo had the disorder until after he was born. “The doctors told us we shouldn’t get too attached to our baby,” Sandra said. “They said he was essentially a potato – a potato that had been badly cooked. Imagine a defect at the factory, your baby is a fau
Ana Beatriz Muñoz Valdivieso
Hoy en día, donde el virus del COVID.19 está más fuerte que nunca. Donde a diario la gente se está muriendo, nadie voltea a ver a la felicidad, quien se encuentra guardada en un ropero, un closet, un baúl, o por algún rincón de la casa. Sin embargo ella nos sonríe porque vive dentro de cada uno de nosotros. La felicidad nos invita a salir de esta terrible situación con un aire de esperanza. Que esto pronto pasará. Esto será como un sueño. Debemos agradecer el día a día, que se nos dé vida. Resguardarse si no ha necesidad de salir es un gran regalo que nos podemos dar. Valorar el tiempo de vida, es esencial. Leer un libro, ver una buena película, platicar buenas historias y anécdotas, con quienes vivimos. Hacerle caso al llamado de las autoridades. Lo importante es no dejar de sonreír, de estar alertas, que no nos invada el pesimismo. La felicidad nos ayudará a vencer este virus que vino a desestabilizar nuestras vidas. Que Dios nos bendiga a todos.
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