Jose Ronilo G. Juangco, MD, MPH, (Director) Ramon Jason M. Javier, MD, MSTM, FPAFP;

Januario E. Sia−Cunco, MD, MHSE, (Education and Training)John Lemuel A. Balatucan, PTRP (Health Service Program)

Clarita C. Penalba, RN, MAN, PhD (Resource Management), Annabelle Fajardo, MD. MPH. (CAHP rep)

Malnourished children enrolled in the NUTRI−CHIKA program enjoyed daily caloric build up lunch meals, which aimed to improve their level of nutrition. Food consumption was quantified daily, while anthropometric measurements were monitored and tallied on a monthly basis.

Mothers were tasked to do marketing chores, to prepare the lunch meal, and to feed the enrolled malnourished children at the health facility, the Bahay Pagamutan.

While the mothers prepared the lunch meals, the malnourished kids were regularly provided with different educational activities, which aimed to develop their cognitive function and stimulate intellectual capabilities.

Mothers actively participated in inter−active small group discussions, which focused on good nutritional practices, food myths and food exchanges, and childhood growth, development, and malnutrition. development, and malnutrition.

The Community Extension and Social Action Unit (CESAU) was created to harmonize the extra−curricular community−based activities of the various UERMMMCI academic units and offices. In collaboration with Rotary Club of Metro West Triangle, the National Housing Authority, and the local government units, CESAU established a community−academe partnership in Rodriguez, Rizal.

In 2017, CESAU launched an innovative nutrition program, named NUTRI−CHIKA: Usapan Tungkol at Para sa Nutrisyon, to address the public health burden of childhood malnutrition. The Promote Good Nutrition component of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) aimed to improve the nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices of families to increase demand for adequate, nutritious, and safe food. This was the rationale behind the NUTRI−CHIKA program.

Post−graduate interns (PGIs) and faculty of the College of Medicine identified and enrolled malnourished children in the NUTRI−CHIKA program. program. The Dietary Section UERM Memorial Hospital prepared a daily caloric build−up lunch meal plan for the children (i.e., Monday to Friday). Volunteer community health workers (CHWs) and mothers of the malnourished children were given novel and inter−active learning modules by the College of Nursing, on proper food handling and preparation, food equivalents−exchanges, and awareness on prevalent food myths. The CHWs and the mothers were responsible for doing the market purchases, actual food preparation within the health facility, as well as feeding of the rationed food meals to the children. While the CHWs and mothers prepared the food, the children were also introduced to different learning−play sessions, conducted by the PGIs, which stimulated cognitive development, as well as to regular physical activities by the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences. Weekly anthropometrics of the children were monitored and recorded.

At the end of the six−month program, improvements in nutritional status of the children were documented. There was an average of 2.32 kgs increase (p−value < 0.0001) in weight and another 3.05 cms increase in height (p−value < 0.001) from the initial baseline anthropometrics of the increase (p−value < 0.0001) in weight and another 3.05 cms increase in height (p−value < 0.001) from the initial baseline anthropometrics of the children. Likewise, there was a statistically significant odds (p <0.001, McNemar s change test) that those who participated in the NUTRI−CHIKA feeding program were 32 times more likely to have an improvement in their nutritional status. Furthermore, there was a significant (p value <0.03) mean increase of 16.5 points in the level of good nutrition knowledge of the mothers based on their pre−test / post−test scores. Based on mother s perception, there was an increase in the children s academic performance and positive attitude towards school.

The NUTRI−CHIKA program was an effective program that answered the public health burden of childhood malnutrition. It also provided a venue for collaborative work between members of the academe and important stakeholders in the community.

NUTRI−CHIKA Usapan Tungkol at Para sa Nutrisyon

Community−Academ ical Center, Inc. (UERMMMCI)Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Community Extension and Social Action Uunit (CESAU)University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. (UERMMMCI)

Quezon City, Metro Manila, PhilippintttQuezon City, Metro Manila, Philippinttt

NUTRI-CHIKA:UsapanTungkolatParasaNutrisyon

CommunityExtensionandSocialAc=onUnit(CESAU)UniversityoftheEastRamonMagsaysayMemorialMedicalCenter,Inc.

QuezonCity,MetroManila,Philippines

JoseRoniloG.Juangco,MD,MPH,FPSVI(COM);RamonJasonM.Javier,MD,MSTM,FPAFP(COM);

JanuarioE.Sia-Cunco,MD,MHSE,FPASMAP(COM);ClaritaC.Penalba,RN,MAN,PhD(CON);

andJohnLemuelA.Balatucan,PTRP(CAReS)