A Community We Support: Pantoja
Background
The Feed the Hungry San Miguel kitchen in the Pantoja community opened in 2014. The school is 8 km from the Feed the Hungry Center. During school year 2023-2024, a hot, nutritious lunch is served every school day to 86 students at the Simón Bolivár primaria (elementary) school.
There are also 10 families enrolled in the Early Childhood Nutrition program, which provides food for children who have been weaned but are not yet in school; typically, eight months old to four or five years old. Their mothers receive twice-monthly deliveries of food and educational workshops.
Location Statistics
The most recent INEGI census (2020) reported a Pantoja population of 390 men, women, and children, residing in 97 households. Thirty-five percent of the residents were under the age of 14. Of the residents over 12 years old, 46% were economically active. Among adults, the average level of schooling completed was seven years and 11% were illiterate.
Nutrition Report – School Year 2023-2024
For the latest Nutrition Report, staff nutritionists assessed 75 students in primaria through height, weight, and body fat measurements.
The cases of underweight are few, however, the children present clinical signs of malnutrition, such as dry skin and hair, facial depigmentation, and severe dental caries.
In overweight children, we see clinical signs such as dental caries, dry and depigmented hair and skin, distended abdomen, hyperkeratosis, reddened or slightly yellow sclera, and acanthosis nigricans. These signs occur when there is a deficiency of micronutrients such as vitamins A, C, and B complex, as well as the high consumption of ultra-processed foods with excess sugars and trans fats that inhibit the absorption of these nutrients.
Health Assessment Results
| Condition | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Obese | 5 |
| Overweight | 7 |
| At risk of overweight | 7 |
| Normal | 52 |
| Light underweight | 1 |
| Moderate underweight | 2 |
| Severe underweigh | 1 |
The children usually have good acceptance of the food served from the Feed the Hungry kitchen, and some enjoy seconds. In general, the children tend to value the food provided by the program, so we hope to continue improving their health and wellbeing.
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