BUTUAN CITY- Community Nutrition Services NC II for the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) to kickstart in 2023, said by Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr. Nino Archie S. Labordo during the meeting of the Provincial/City Nutrition Action Officers (PCNAO) and District/City Nutrition Program Coordinators (DCNPC) on 12 January 2023 at Balanghai Hotel, Butuan City.

In 2019, the NNC Governing Board, through NNC GB Resolution No. 9, recommends and in coordination to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the development of Training Regulation (TR) on Community Nutrition Services NC II for the BNSs.

The resolution aims to update the training modules for BNSs to be competency-based, increase retention of performing BNSs with change in local leadership, and standardize the roll-out of training for BNSs

At community level, Barangay Nutrition Scholars are recognized as the community volunteers that are responsible for offering nutrition programs and other related activities.

However, a number of obstacles prevent them from doing their jobs, including (1) replacement under changing leadership, (2) BNS are not properly trained, and (3) different LGU incentive levels.

The collaborative effort of NNC and TESDA provides clarity and offers hope for resolving those BNS concerns, added by Dr. Labordo.

The Community Nutrition Services NC II will be offering its program between May to October 2023, after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement and deployment activities, Dr. Labordo highlighted.

The core competencies needed under the CNS NC II are: (1) assess the nutritional status of children under five years old; (2) Assist in the Barangay Nutrition Committee perform its functions; (3) assist in the delivery of nutrition related services; (4) promote adoption of positive behaviors; and (5) monitor and evaluate community nutrition programs.

Dr. Labordo requested for the Association to recommend prospective Regional Lead Assessors and Regional Lead Trainers to speed the implementation of CNS NC II for the barangay nutrition scholars in Caraga region.#SMMontenegro/NASLabordo