Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur- Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) in Prosperidad convened its First Quarter Meeting on 4 February 2022 to discuss the accomplishments in the previous year and the activities lined up in 2022.

In the meeting, MNAO Jocelyn Branzuela presented and compared the accomplishments of Prosperidad in terms of nutrition programs from the year 2020 to the year 2021. In 2020, the target population for OPT Plus was 9,195 with total population of children weighed at 9,576 which earned them a percentage of 104%. However, for the year 2021, total weighed children are only at 8,764 out of 11,173 posting a percentage of only 78.4%.

MNAO Branzuela then presented the OPT Plus Comparative Report by barangay and requested the BNSs to share the challenges experienced. According to the report, the reduce number of children are due to transfer of the child to other locality, restriction on house-to-house visit and/or any gathering and parent’s refusal to weigh their child due to the threat of COVID-19.

Furthermore, MNAO Branzuela shared an overview of their calendar of activities for the year 2022: a monthly meeting every third (3rd) Thursday of the month; Pinggang Pinoy orientation to pregnant and lactating mothers for 1st quarter; Exclusive breastfeeding orientation for 2nd quarter; Complementary feeding orientation for 3rd quarter.; Pinggang Pinoy orientation to elderly people for 4th quarter.

After which, Provincial BNS President of Agusan del Sur, Jeric Delima, re-oriented the fellow BNSs on the use of different OPT tools such as e-OPT tool, Allen stick, salter weighing scale and MUAC tape.

PNAO Angchango then gave updates on nutrition programs in the province and shared insights on the accomplishment of Prosperidad on OPT Plus emphasizing the importance of reaching the target population. Moreover, PNAO Angchangco provided a brief overview about the use of Ready-to-Eat Therapeutic Food or RUTF and its role in helping acutely malnourished children.

Further, PNFP Mariella Rayco provided updates on Tutok Kainan – Dietary Supplementation Program, answered queries about National Nutrition Survey and facilitated the distribution of BNS health kits from NNC Caraga.#MPRayco