Oral Rehydration Solution

Back in January, we had a nutrition day in San Gregorio. Whenever we hold a nutrition day, the health promoters teach parents about some topic or skill. This day, Vicente and Dominga taught the moms to make a remarkably yummy ORS. I’ve tasted a few ORS’s and nearly all have made me cringe (dehydrated babies tend to be less picky but mom’s aren’t -- around here they have been pretty reluctant to make their own ORS). But this one: 1 liter water, 4 Tbsp sugar, ½ Tbsp salt, and ½ cup orange juice actually got the moms and kids coming back for more. Rotavirus hit Guatemala in late Dec, Jan, and Feb, resulting in several deaths and a lot of hospitalizations. Our clinic was out of ORS packets for almost all of February and most people from distant communities like San Gregorio don’t make it in to clinic anyway. It was wonderfully encouraging to watch the moms crowd around the pila (outdoor sink) and pepper the health promoters with questions and clarifications on the recipe and how to give the solution.