The National Nutrition Council – NCR conducted a five-day live-in Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) on August 7-11, 2017 at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
The 4th batch of ToT was attended by thirty (30) participants composed of local nutrition program coordinators, midwives, members of local nutrition committees and selected barangay nutrition scholars from eleven (11) local government units in Metro Manila completed all six (6) modules of the training and graduated as Trainers of the BNSs.
The training aimed to capacitate the participants with facilitation and mentoring techniques along with other relevant knowledge, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become competent trainers of the BNSs in their respective LGUs. A combination of training methods was used such as lecture, group discussion, exercise, role playing and games to further enhance the learning process of the trainers.
The training was facilitated by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo, Ms. Marie Tess C. Belo (Nutritionist-Dietitian III of Mandaluyong City), Ms. Eileen Mercedita S. Guevara (Acting Administrative Officer and Nutritionist-Dietitian II of Marikina City), Ms. Maria Teresa G. Abando (Nutritionist-Dietitian II of Caloocan City), Ms. Emerenciana L. Francia and Ms. Theresa A. Rivas, Nutrition Officers III and II of NNC-NCR, respectively. Nutrition Officer I Mary Agnes Beatrice R. Menorca also acted as facilitator/secretariat of the training assisted by Administrative Aide VI Stephanie Joy D. Bactad.
The training covered six (6) modules: 1) The Barangay Nutrition Scholars Program; 2) Basic Concepts on Food and Nutrition; 3) Developing Skills of the BNSs needed in performing the roles and tasks of BNSs; 4) Situating the Barangay Nutrition Program Management in the Local Development System; 5) The BNSs in Action: Roles and responsibilities; and 6) Implement training on the basic course for BNSs.
“Barangay Nutrition Scholars are community nutrition workers who deliver basic nutrition and nutrition-related services to the families in the community particularly those with malnourished children. They also serve as the link between the families and the service providers in the community. For them to effectively perform their tasks, BNSs need to be trained and mentored to acquire the necessary knowledge, attitude and skills. This is where you trainers come in. As BNS trainers, you are expected to identify the gaps and needs of your BNSs in terms of knowledge, skills and values and help build their capacities to enable them to perform their tasks more effectively and efficiently”, NPC Federizo explained. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
