Pagadian City--The Provincial Nutrition Office of Zamboanga del Sur (ZamboSur) successfully conducted their Training of Trainers on Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS). This capacity development activity was in collaboration with the National Nutrition Council IX (NNC9). The said training was spearheaded by the Governor and Chair of the Provincial Nutrition Committee, Honorable Victor J. Yu and Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Grace F. Sumogue. Held at Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City from 16 to 18 February 2022, a total of forty-nine (49) Local nutrition Workers (LNWs) composed of Nutrition Action Officers, Nutrition Program Coordinators, and BNS Federated Presidents from the City/Municipalities of the province were in attendance.
The 3-day training aims to: 1. Explain the legal mandate and rationale of the BNS program; 2. Discuss the basic concepts of food and nutrition; 3. Demonstrate the skills needed in performing the roles and tasks of BNSs; 4. Describe the nutrition program management at the barangay level and in the context of the local development system; 5. Illustrate the numerous roles and responsibilities of BNSs in the context of nutrition program management at the barangay level and 6. Implement training on the basic course for BNSs.
As stated in the Presidential Decree 1569 (PD1569), it is a must for a barangay to have at least one (1) BNS to strengthen the Barangay Nutrition Program. A BNS, as described by this mandate, shall be a barangay-based volunteer worker and is responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities such as community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation, culture, mental feeding, and family planning to the barangay. The Barangay Nutrition Program specifically aims to develop a system or facility for the delivery of basic nutrition and related health services in the barangay through the use of the BNS as a support to the Philippine Nutrition Program (now known as the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition).
The training covers five (5) modules that are as follows: 1.) presents the legal basis and rationale for the implementation of the BNS program, 2.) discusses the information about the relationship of food, diet, and nutritional status, different forms of malnutrition, its causes, and consequences, 3.) equips the BNS with important skills needed to effectively perform their roles and functions, 4.) situates the BNS program in the overall local development system and provides a better understanding of NPM and, 5.) defines the roles and functions of BNS in the context NPM.
The BNS program shall be implemented by the Local Government Unit (LGU) through the local nutrition committee (LNC) chaired by the local chief executives (LCEs). Furthermore, it calls for active community participation and through the BNS, the action plan will be designed and implemented in the barangay level. NNC9 will continuously provide Capacity Development for Local Government Units on Nutrition Program Management and Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars and local nutrition workers making them champions for Nutrition!
PNFP Marie-Claire Gaas
References:
1. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1569
https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1978/pd_1569_1978.html
