By Benjie S. De Yro

Away from the prying eyes of the media, forty-five year old Dolores (not her real name) walks along rice paddies as early as when her children are still asleep. She had to check on a lactating mother, a kilometer away from her home.

“That’s okay. I simply love my work. In fact, it’s an honor”, she said, pride beams from her husky voice.

Selfless and dedicated, she is one of those 2,675 individuals in Cagayan Valley who vowed to make a difference among their people, unnoticed and unheralded. But that was some two years ago before COVID-19 wiped the world out of its wits.

How will   she deliver her services on health and nutrition under a deadly scenario called a pandemic?

In the Philippine, Dolores is called Barangay Nutrition Scholar by virtue of Presidential Decree 1569 to improve implementation of nutrition programs in the barangay through the development of at least one of Dolores kind in every barangay.

Fast to address the problem, the National Nutrition Council in region gathered the BNSs last November 11 -12 for a regional virtual  conference to enhance their knowledge and skills and to update them on the current nutrition and program development in addressing malnutrition for pandemic.

“They have been in the forefront to deliver nutrition services since the start of the quarantine period and they should be prepared to address nutrition problems that may arise,” Meggie M. Lonzaga, regional nutrition coordinator, said.

The congress was likewise aimed to mobilize the BNSs for the efficient and effective implementation of PPAN 2017-2022 in the new normal.

Attended by some 2,000 BNSs and other participants, questions on the impact of COVID-19 to nutrition were answered even as assistance to them and their activities during the pandemic and other relevant nutrition and health problems and issues were answered and discussed.

“Their roles are very significant to ensure health and nutrition. The congress also became a venue to further develop camaraderie among them,” Lonzaga added.

Cagayan Valley region is home to the roster of BNSs who made the finals in the annual national nutrition awards and  played a rather crucial role in the  winning of various barangays, municipalities, cities an provinces in the said awards.

For Dolores, she is set to go back to her work as BNS without fear but with a renewed knowledge and dedication to ensure that ‘that lactating mother’ and her other health and nutrition clients are on its toes and in the pink of health even after the pandemic.