In line with the new implementing guidelines on Electronic Operation Timbang Plus Tool (e-OPT Plus), the National Nutrition Council BARMM and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) hosted a 2-day virtual training on the new version of e-OPT Plus Tools conducted via zoom platform last August 5-6, 2021. The training aims to enhance the skills of the nutrition staff of Ministry of Health (MOH) and the provincial health and nutrition workers and to address quiries on the usage of the regular OPT and the acute malnutrition  tool.

Amidst of the current health crisis brought by Covid pandemic, UN-FAO, MOH and NNC-BARMM exerted its effort to ensure nutrition programs such as e-OPT Plus will still be implemented in the region.

NNC Nutrition Officer II Raceline Faye Calangi discussed the background and brief history of Operation Timbang from 1970s to 2021 by highlighting the comparison between two methods, Operation Timbang and Operation Timbang Plus including key features, uses and advantages of the E-OPT Plus Tool, as well as the mechanism of implementation from Municipal, Provincial and finally to the regional level.

While a virtual hands-on training for the updated version of the e-OPT Plus Tools were thoroughly explained by Dr. Raymundo Celestino F. Habito Jr. on the last day to ensure that the participants will be knowledgeable enough and confident in their actual data entry. He discussed the proper way of inputting data to the Excel, keyboard shortcuts and other important abbreviation to lessen errors  and to ease the workload of health and nutrition workers.

The two days virtual training ended with high hopes and confidence that it results to a more updated and capacitated Bangsamoro Nutrition Workers!