Postgraduates from AIMS Kochi have spearheaded a targeted community health and dietary outreach program across tribal settlements in Wayanad to tackle malnutrition and chronic lifestyle diseases.

In a concerted effort to address pressing public health challenges among indigenous populations, postgraduate nutrition and dietetians from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, have completed a comprehensive community health outreach program across tribal settlements in Wayanad. ​Led by resource persons Jyothika Syam and Devika VM, the initiative targeted vulnerable households in Narippara, Muthanga, Mothakkara, and Vellaramkunnu on August 5, October 8, and October 9, 2026. The camp reached 15 to 20 participants per session, directly addressing a dual burden of health concerns prevalent in the region: malnutrition alongside chronic lifestyle conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

​A Comprehensive Clinical and Dietary Approach

​The multidisciplinary intervention combined rigorous clinical screening with personalized dietary education. During the visits, the dietitians conducted detailed anthropometric assessments, measuring weight and blood pressure, alongside biochemical and clinical evaluations using blood glucose random sampling (GRBS).

​To understand the root causes of prevailing health trends, the team collected dietary recalls, carefully evaluating local eating patterns and identifying critical nutritional risks. Tailored interventions followed immediately:

​Chronic Disease Management: Patients diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and related conditions received targeted, disease-specific dietary counselling.

​Addressing Underweight and Malnutrition: Individuals facing malnutrition received specialized nutritional guidance, while parents of young children were provided with practical recommendations for child-specific dietary modifications.

​Targeted Research and Nutritional Support in Mothakkara

​As part of an ongoing interventional research project, the dietitians undertook focused nutritional assessments and continuous evaluations of selected malnourished children in Mothakkara. To combat local nutritional deficiencies directly, the team integrated a targeted food-based intervention, providing these children with protein-rich chikki three times a week.

​Public health advocates note that grassroots initiatives like the AIMS Kochi outreach play a vital role in bridging healthcare gaps in remote regions, offering sustainable pathways toward improved maternal and child health, chronic disease management, and long-term community resilience.