Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and selected Barangay Health workers (BHWs) from the five barangays, midwives and nurses under the Nurse Deployment Program assigned in the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Lagayan, Abra completed the training on proper weight and length/height measurement as well as nutritional status interpretation for preschool children on April 20 to 22, 2015 held at Lagayan Catholic Church, Poblacion, Lagayan, Abra.

In particular, the participants received training on the following: computation of age-in-months; measurement and recording of child’s weight and height/length (with demonstration); assessment of the nutritional status using the WHO-CGS reference tables; nutritional status plotting in the Early Childhood Care and Development Card (ECCD); counselling on proper infant and child feeding; updates on micronutrient supplementation; Nutrition in Emergencies; and filling-up of Barangay OPT Plus forms. They had workshops and practicum where they applied the learnings and new skills learned while under the guidance of the facilitators who assisted them in their in difficulties. With the said activity, the trainees were expected to strengthen their involvement in the growth monitoringin the municipality and to ensure the accuracy of their OPT Plus report.

DOH-CAR, in partnership with the NNC-CAR conducted the activity as part of the implementation of the Regional Technical Assistants on Nutrition (RTAN) workplan formulated in the third quarter of 2014. The activity aimed at addressing the need to be capacitate BNSs and local nutrition workers on correct growth assessment and recording to ensure the accuracy of their OPT reports.

The Municipality of Lagayan was chosenfor the training being the top most Nutritionally Depressed Municipality(NDM) in the region in based of the OPT Plus result of 2014.