Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) of Roxas and Piñan, Zamboanga Del Norte participated in the two-day training workshop led by the Department of Science and Technology, Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) last February 04 and 05 in the Municipality of Piñan, Zamboanga Del Norte and February 06 and 07 in the Municipality of Roxas, Zamboanga Del Norte. The two-day training workshop was focused on the DOST-FNRI’s Malnutrition Reduction Program (MRP) which was first launched in 2011.
According to the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, 3 out of 20 Filipino infants and young children between 0-23 months old are underweight. While 5 out of 20 Filipino infants and young children between 0-23 months are stunted. With the adverse effects of malnutrition such as poor school performance, weak immunity, and slow growth development, DOST-FNRI developed the MRP which would hopefully reduce the prevalence of malnutrition among Filipino children using different interventions.
The program uses a mix of intervention on local technology, supplementary feeding, and nutrition education. One intervention includes the DOST PINOY (Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children) which is a package of nutrition intervention wherein there will be a 120-day feeding of children using DOST-FNRI developed complementary food blends and snack foods, and a conduct of nutrition education for the BNSs and BHWs focusing on important topics such as basic nutrition, healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, meal planning, complementary feeding, safe food handling and preparation, and backyard vegetable gardening.
Initially, the DOST-FNRI conducts training workshops which would be attended by the BNSs and BHWs. What is expected from the latter is to personally train and apply what they’ve learned from the training workshops and train the mothers and caregivers of their respective barangays. The BNSs and BHWs are given hard copies of the modules for them to use in their presentations. To cater the communities with no resources of electricity, DOST-FNRI is also willing to give flip cards to maximize the training.
Each module is filled with activities, chapter exercises, and brief discussions focusing on the seven topics. During the two-day training workshop, exams were also given to the participants. Pre-tests are conducted to assess whether they still remember the basics. Post-tests are given to know whether they understood what was presented to them.
Another strategy is the development of complementary foods and snack foods. The objectives of this intervention would be the licensing of the complementary food blends and snack foods and to provide technical assistance among the LGUs, NGOs, private organizations and Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
The complementary food blends include the rice-mongo instant blend which can be easily prepared as it only requires to be mixed with a glass of warm or cold water, whatever is preferred. Other food blends also include the rice-mongo-sesame ready-to-cook blend, mongo-kamote-sesame instant blend, rice-mongo curls, Multi-Nutrient Growth Mix (MGM), and Multi-Nutrient Growth Mix (All Natural). These food blends are then used for another strategy which is the supplementary feeding program that will last for 120 days.
Although this program is still being implemented by the DOST-FNRI throughout the whole country, it cannot be done by the agency alone. Mothers, caregivers, BNSs, BHWs, and LGUs are encouraged to render help to make this program a success by applying what they’ve learned to benefit the stunted and underweight Filipino children.
(AA VI Cielo Katrina M. Mabalot)
