The Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program is a human resource development strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, which involves the training, deployment and supervision of volunteer workers or barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). Presidential Decree No. 1569 passed on 11 July 1978 requires the deployment of one (1) BNS in every barangay and mandates the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to administer the program in cooperation with Local Government Units.
Frequently, we see them walking in the streets of the community with their nutrition assessment tools, conducting Operation Timbang Plus, nutrition counselling and health advocacy activities. As front runners of nutrition in the community, BNSs are considered as the backbone of the nutrition program implementation in the country. As volunteer health workers, our BNSs are under paid, unrecognized, and even taken for granted. Thus, their knowledge and skills need to be constantly updated so that they can continue to perform their services efficiently and faithfully serve their community.
With the objective of providing the BNS with updates and refresh their knowledge and skills specially during this COVID 19 Pandemic, Virac Nutrition Office conducted a 3-day Training on Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars. To observe the minimum health standards as recommended by the Inter Agency Task Force on COVID 19, the training was done in 3 batches, composed of cluster barangays.
The first batch of training was done on 23-25 February 2022 at Hawan Grande, Virac attended by BNS from nearby barangay, followed by the 2nd batch on 26-28 Feb 2022 at Buyo, Virac and the third batch on 1-3 March 2022 at Calatagan Barangay Covered Court. Resource speakers were MNAO Jocelyn U. Quinones, RND, Nutrition Office Staff Danneza Karen J. Guererro, RND, Ms. Rochelle Rubia, Ms. Evangeline Jemera, DOH HRH ND Kimberly Roy Balmadrid, and NNC ROV Provincial Nutrition Focal Person of Catanduanes, Ms. Jessica A. Sesalim. A total of 162 BNSs successfully completed the refresher course. To cap the event, the BNSs elected their Federated BNS Officers for 2022-2023.
Likewise, Virac Nutrition Office conducted an orientation of their ECCD F1KD Barangay Coordinators. Together with NNC ROV Officer-in-Charge Marilyn C. Valeza, 55 barangay ECCD F1K Coordinators are now equipped with knowledge and skills on how to promote nutrition governance, gather support from LGUs to showcase multi-sectoral F1KD activities and pilot local policies for replication and scaling in Virac. The appointed ECCD-F1K Coordinators receives a monthly honorarium of Php 1,000 from the Local Government Unit of Virac as indicated in the Municipal Ordinance formulated and approved by Sanggunian Bayan members. This local ordinance enjoins all 63 barangays to appoint one ECCD Coordinator in every barangay to support the implementation of the First 1000 Days Program, address the problem of stunting among children and improve the health and nutritional status of pregnant mothers for a nutritionally improved community. Given the dedication of its strong nutrition workforce, political will of its leaders, and commitment to do better, it will not be long before Virac enjoys this beautiful nutrition scenario.
- JAS, MCV, ARR/NNC RO V
