Project HOPE, Health of Pupils Enhanced: An Intervention Program to Help Improve the Nutritional Level of Undernourished Pupils of Carlos S. Batino Sr. Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Early malnutrition can unfavorably affect the physical, mental, and social aspects of a child's health, which leads to underweight, stunted growth and depressed immunity and mortality. Better nutrition provides them with better resistance to diseases which would keep them from attending school. School feeding programs could help supplement the problem for malnourished children through providing them with healthy meals. Carlos S. Batino Sr. Elementary School caters migrant families from different parts of the country. One of the main problem of the school was high prevalence of severely wasted and wasted pupils. Based on the baseline nutritional status report, 28 pupils or 3% of the total enrolment are severely wasted and wasted. In response to this, Project HOPE (Health of Pupils Enhanced) was developed to address the problem of the school. The utilization of the school's Gulayan sa Paaralan Nutrition Education to support the School Based Feeding Program was emphasized.

METHODS

The experimental method of research was used in this action research. It is experimental in the sense that is case study format using a developmental design. It was utilized in this research because nutritional progress of research pupils under the school based feeding program under this study was being monitored. Developmental reseach is focused on the progressive changes that occur as an organism develops (Devin Kowalckzyk).

RESULTS

After gathering all the data, the research showed that by utilizing the school's Gulayan sa Paaralan and Nutrition Education to support the School Based Feeding Program at Carlos S. Batino Sr. Elementary School, improved the nutritional level of the pupils is very significant. The academic performance was improved and the absenteeism was lessened.

DISCUSSIONS

There is a need to capacitate school-based feeding coordinators on proper food handling, food safety, and basic nutrition concepts to promote change in serving healthy school meals utilizing school garden produce and to encourage children's lifelong healthy eating habits. The impact of feeding programs varies widely depending on how it is designed, implemented, and evaluated. The core of implementing feeding program among schools is for the holistic productivity of the nation. While it is important to note the benefits that can be derived from it, its success depends upon the pupils involved.