Recognizing the imperious need to continuously advocate for breastfeeding and for the good nutrition of babies and children, the National Nutrition Council Regional Office 02 conducted a four-day orientation on the community support for the Infant and Young child Feeding Program. Held at Villa Blanca Hotel in Tuguegarao City last November 19 to 22, 2013, the activity is primarily aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of health and nutrition workers on community mobilization for them to be able to organize and mobilize IYCF community support groups that will do the peer counseling of pregnant women and mothers with 0-2 years old children.
The participants in the said activity include midwives, nurses, and other health and nutrition workers from the Province of Isabela. Director Rhodora G. Maestre of NNC RO2 said that the orientation is geared towards improving further the implementation of IYCF program in the region. She also noted that the health workers are their best partners in facilitating the conduct of refresher on IYCF counseling and community support with gender concerns in the region.
On the first and second day of the activity, the participants were trained and oriented on the various steps of community mobilization on IYCF which include the mapping and identification of possible partners, conduct of community assemblies, organizing of volunteers, assessment of IYCF practices in the community, orientation of peer counselors, action planning, implementation, and the monitoring, evaluation and documentation of plans and activities.
On the other hand, the third and fourth day were utilized for the lecture on IYCF counsellign and the use of counseling cards and the visit to community and practical session on IYCF counseling.
The trainers and facilitators during the activity include IYCF Coordinator of Mandaluyong City Dr. Shari Ludovina Sabalvaro and Nutrition Officers of NNC RO2 Ms. Ma. Gisela Lonzaga, Ms. Benjielyne Estudillo and Ms. Arrian Dumaliang.
“With the activities that we have lined up, we hope that our health and nutrition workers will continue to work tirelessly for the full implementation of IYCF program. They are our people in the grassroots level and we give our full trust to them in achieving our goals and objectives. We also thank them for their selfless dedication in working for the good of our mothers and their babies,” Director Maestre said at the end of the orientation activity.
