On July 29, 2022, the City of Pagadian, spearheaded by the City Mayor, Hon. Samuel S. Co, successfully held its 48th Nutrition Month Culmination at Plaza Luz, Covered Court. The activity was attended by the City Administrator and Nutrition Action Officer, Engr. Vince Quipot, Development Management Officer II of NNC, Ms. Marie-Claire A. Gaas, City Nutrition Program Coordinators, and no less than forty-one (41) Barangay Nutrition Scholars. This activity aims to better equip the capabilities of BNS as barangay-based volunteer workers by explaining the legal mandate and rationale of the BNS program and providing a refresher course on how to conduct the Operation Timbang Plus or OPT.
To begin with the culmination program, BNS from Barangay Balangasan led the participants on the mass dance, which was followed by an opening prayer, the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and Pagadian Hymn. An inspirational message was also given by the City Vice Mayor Baldomero Baleleng Fernandez. One of the highlights of the activity was the refresher course on how to conduct the Operation Timbang which was discussed by DMO II Ms. Marie-Claire A. Gaas of National Nutrition Council 9. She first discussed the roles and functions of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), along with the legal basis and rationale for implementing the BNS program. A BNS is a barangay-based volunteer worker responsible for delivering to the barangay nutrition services and other related activities. It is stated under the Presidential decree 1569 that there should be at least one (1) BNS per barangay.
During the activity, DMO II Gaas also discussed how to conduct the Operation Timbang Plus (OPT+). She likewise emphasized on how to properly weigh and get the length, height and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of the child. The OPT+ serves as baseline to assess the nutrition situation, and what type of malnutrition exists in the community. Furthermore, OPT+ results may improve the efforts of the OPT Plus Team to come up with a city nutrition situation that can influence the LNC members to exert more efforts and place more emphasis on addressing malnutrition. The generated data from the OPT results may also identify and quantify preschoolers who are malnourished, locate families with preschoolers who are malnourished, determine priority areas and individuals for nutrition interventions, and provide basis for the assessment of local nutrition programs.
The gathering also served as a forum to discuss concerns and challenges that were encountered by the BNS. Some BNSs stated that they need additional transportation allowance to be able to attend monthly meetings and perform their duties effectively. The CNAO designate and City Administrator, Engr. Quipot reassured the BNSs residing in remote barangays that they will be given additional funds. He also shared his plans to conduct the BNS Basic Course Training in partnership with NNC9 to better equip the capabilities of the said barangay-based volunteer workers. The implementation of nutrition and health-related services at the barangay level will persist with the help of volunteer barangay-based workers, which asks for active community involvement. On the other hand, NNC9 also commits to continuously provide capacity building assistance to LGUs and BNSs on Nutrition Program Management and other concerns to make them champions in Nutrition in the near future!
DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
- PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1569
https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1978/pd_1569_1978.html
