Barangay Labueg, Kapangan, Benguet-- Barangay officials, health and nutrition workers, senior citizens, youth representative and parents of this barangay attended a training that made them Community Mobilizers and Peer Counsellors on Infant and Young Child Feeding. The training was conducted by the Municipality of Kapangan in coordination with the Bengeut Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Barangay officials of Labueg and National Nutrition Council -CAR on October 14-17, 2014. Barangay Labueg was chosen among the 141 barangays of Benguet province as the IYCF Model Barangay of Benguet because of its very active and committed Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC).
The training on Community Mobilizers and Peer Counsellors on Infant and Young Child Feeding aimed to mobilize community support for IYCF program and organize peer counselors or support group to conduct peer counselling among pregnant and lactating mothers in the barangay. The main components of the training include lectures on the detailed steps in mobilizing the community support and skill enhancement on IYCF counselling.
The participants of the training reorganized the ‘Barangay Labueg IYCF and Community Support Group’ and agreed on the following activities/strategies: a) inclusion of new members and leadership transition; b) creation of new local policies in support to IYCF; c) continuation of IYCF counselling during home visits and semi-annual Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) monitoring activity (Mabodbodeg); d) conduct of Focus Group Discussion among parents by each peer counsellors during the immunization day starting on November 2014; e) implementation of the 2015 Barangay IYCF plan; f) proper documentation of all the IYCF counselling conducted; and g) centralization of filing records of clients counselled for easier consolidation. With these activities, the barangay hopes to achieve 100% exclusive breastfeeding among 0-6 month old children and improved complementary feeding practices in the barangay and sustain zero underweight cases among preschool children.
