Provide primary health care for street children

Bringing Hope to the Streets: How Childhope Philippines’s KliniKalye Program provides life-saving healthcare to Manila’s vulnerable Children in Street Situations.

For the past seven months, Dr. Pam, a dedicated medical doctor for the KliniKalye program of Childhope Philippines Foundation, Inc. has encountered numerous challenging health conditions among street children. Malnutrition, respiratory infections, and skin diseases are just some of the ailments prevalent in these communities. Many of these children have limited access to healthcare, making these issues even more severe. The KliniKalye program was established to address these urgent needs, providing much-needed medical attention to children who would otherwise go without care.

The KliniKalye program, which operates weekly in the areas across Metro Manila, utilizes a Mobile Health Clinic to deliver free medical services directly to those in need. This initiative is more than just a healthcare service; it is a lifeline for street children. One-on-one consultations with our medical doctor, and licensed first aid responder are a core component of the program, offering personalized care and attention. These consultations go beyond immediate treatment, with volunteers also focusing on illness prevention by educating children and their families about proper hygiene and diet.

In addition to medical consultations, the KliniKalye program offers a range of other services aimed at improving the overall well-being of street children. The program provides nutritional support, including vitamin supplementation and food assistance, to combat malnutrition. Health education sessions are conducted to empower children with knowledge about disease prevention and healthy living. The program also collaborates with local organizations to ensure that children receive follow-up care when needed, ensuring a holistic approach to their health and development.

One of the key strengths of KliniKalye is its commitment to continuity of care. Rather than offering one-time interventions, the program ensures that children receive ongoing medical attention. This is particularly important for children with chronic conditions, who require regular monitoring and treatment. KliniKalye’s healthcare professionals develop individualized care plans for each child, tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Regular follow-ups are conducted to assess the effectiveness of treatments and make any necessary adjustments. This ongoing care is crucial in managing chronic conditions and preventing them from worsening, ultimately improving the long-term health outcomes for these children.

Klinikalye also understands that health is not just about physical well-being. The program has integrated mental health services into its offerings, recognizing the profound impact that life on the streets can have on a child’s psychological state. Many of these children have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect, which can manifest in various mental health challenges. Through counseling sessions and mental health support, Klinikalye helps children navigate these difficult experiences. By providing a safe and supportive environment, the program allows children to express their emotions and fears, helping them to develop resilience and coping mechanisms. Collaboration is another key component of Klinikalye’s success. The program works closely with local health facilities, and government agencies to ensure that children receive comprehensive care. When specialized medical services are required, Klinikalye facilitates referrals and coordinates with partner organizations to provide the necessary treatment. This collaborative approach not only enhances the quality of care but also strengthens the network of support available to street children. By building these partnerships, Klinikalye ensures that no child falls through the cracks.

Over the past seven months, Klinikalye has made significant strides in improving the health outcomes of these children. The program is a vital resource in the fight against poverty-related health issues in Metro Manila, and its success is evident in the growing number of children who have received medical care and the positive changes in their health status. By bringing healthcare directly to the streets, the program ensures that even the most vulnerable children have access to the medical attention they desperately need. KliniKalye is more than just a healthcare program; it is a lifeline for the street children of Manila. By bringing essential medical services directly to the streets, KliniKalye ensures that no child is left without care, regardless of their circumstances. The program’s holistic approach, which addresses both the physical and mental health needs of children, has made a profound impact on their lives. Through its dedicated efforts, Klinikalye continues to provide a critical safety net for children in street situations, offering them hope and a better chance at a healthier future.

Health Education.

Childhope believes that education is an important step in promoting health and preventing illnesses. Side by side with the health-related modules being taught during alternative education sessions, the KliniKalye also endeavors to provide health education through basic one-on-one medical counselling during medical check-ups, as well as through the teaching sessions of volunteers and students under the KliniKalye Physician’s supervision.

Throughout the year, the topics discussed by the Physician with the patients during one-on-one medical counselling included the following:

1. proper hygiene, including handwashing and dental / oral care

2. practical approaches to proper diet

3. substance abuse effects and prevention

4. prevention of common diseases in the community

Medical students from the Ateneo School of Medicine a Public Health drafted a Module on Maternal and Child Health for Childhope. They conducted several teaching sessions in December for two groups of beneficiaries: (1) younger children ages 7 to 12 years old; and (2) direct beneficiaries who are teenage mothers, and other mothers of beneficiaries. For the younger age group, the topics discussed under the module included Oral Health for Children and Nutrition for Children. On the other hand, the topics discussed for the mothers included Antenatal Care, Postnatal Care, Family Planning, and Immunization. In total, 30 children and 55 parents benefited from these teaching sessions. Once the module is finalized and taught to Childhope’s Street Educators, it will form part of the teaching materials under Childhope’s Alternative Education.

Nutritional Status Monitoring.

Direct beneficiaries between the ages of 7 to 17 years old were included in KliniKalye’s nutritional status monitoring. This served to get a general picture of the overall physical health of all street children under Childhope’s care, to serve as reference for the KliniKalye’s other activities and Childhope’s KalyenDerya Community Soup Kitchen Project, and to identify specific children needing upbuilding and closer monitoring.

All measurements of the children’s height, weight, and computed body mass index, were assessed using the World Health Organization’s Growth Standards. In 2023, 64% of direct beneficiaries 7 to 17 years old had normal height for age, and 76% of them had normal weight based on their computed body mass index.

Routine Deworming.

Children who spend a significant amount of time in the streets, especially if they lack facilities or basic knowledge on personal hygiene, and go unsupervised by adults, are at a higher risk of acquiring intestinal parasites from their environment. To address this major health concern, and to prevent its long-term consequences (such as anemia and malnutrition), the KliniKalye regularly conducts routine deworming for its direct beneficiaries, as well as for indirect beneficiaries who also want to join or who are included by their parents and guardians. In 2023, 81% of all patients from 4 to 17 years old underwent routine deworming at least once.

Well – Child Consults.

Well-child consults or wellchild check-ups are medical check-ups with seemingly healthy children, or children without any physical complaints. These check-ups are important to screen for health problems that children or their parents and guardians are not aware of, to monitor their progress from previous check-ups, and to review and reinforce healthy behaviors. This also positively reflects the children’s health seeking behavior as they take-on, at a young age, the responsibility for their own health. In 2023, 16.8% of all consultations were well-child consults.

Supplementation with Multivitamins and Minerals.

Multiple factors contribute to malnutrition among street children. While Childhope works to address these factors and, and provides regular meals through the KalyenDerya Project, KliniKalye specifically aims to prevent and correct micronutrient deficiencies by regularly providing supplemental multivitamins and minerals. In 2023, all patients were provided with supplements, including Multivitamins and Minerals, Vitamin C + Zinc, and/or Iron + Folic Acid.

Hygiene Kits and Supplies.

While health education equips children with adequate knowledge and the right attitude to become healthy, it is also equally important to provide them with the items they need to practice what they have learned. To do so, the KliniKalye distributed hygiene kits and/or supplies during clinics as donations allowed. These items included toothpaste, toothbrush, bath soap, shampoo, and face masks