Commitment, hard work and compassion are the key factors that helped Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Rose N. Alipoyo emerge as the Regional Outstanding BNS, and finalist of the National OBNS.
Leading seven (7) other BNSs in the barangay as Barangay Nutrition Action Officer, BNS Rose confidently embodies the core values of a Barangay Nutrition Scholar, and values her co-BNSs and the entire nutrition workforce of Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City.
BNS Rose has served the barangay for eight (8) years as a nutrition volunteer where she ensures that nutrition programs initiated by the Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) reach every household in the barangay. This was made possible through the help and cooperation of Kauswagan BNC through the leadership and support of Punong Barangay Pedro D. Balite, her fellow BNSs, Barangay Health Workers, Nurses, Midwives and all the Zone Leaders.
The following notable best practices enabled BNS Rose and the Kauswagan BNC to deliver nutrition programs further than what is expected:
- Intensive nutrition promotion and education. BNS Rose Alipoyo took extra effort in educating mothers and caregivers on good nutrition and proper infant and young child feeding by conducting Pabasa sa Nutrisyon and IYCF Classes & Counselling. In the process, she utilized her very own Visayan version of nutrition flip charts and IEC materials and reproduced copies so mothers of Barangay Kauswagan could understand nutrition better and apply what they learned in their respective households.
- Supplementary Feeding. Together with her co BNSs, BNS Rose led the team in the conduct of supplementary feeding to 6-59 months old undernourished children. In fact, she was one of Cagayan de Oro City’s scholars on Bread and Pastry Production NC II in which she also shared her knowledge and skills to her fellow BNSs. The BNC then established the BNC Food Stall selling bread as one of the resource generation of the committee and using part of the income for feeding program of children. The barangay’s Senior Citizen and GAD focal persons served as their partners in the said program.
- Food Production. Since Kauswagan is an urban barangay with limited garden spaces, promoting home food production was challenging. To address this concern, BNS Rose recommended the “Utanon Matag Adlaw” or UMA Program. The initiative was approved by the BNC and was launched last July 2018 as part of the Nutrition Month Campaign. The program strengthened the barangay’s gardening efforts. Vegetables were given to target beneficiaries and portions of their produce were sold to the market as part of their resource generation activities. Gardens were also established inside the Barangay Hall compound maintained by each department to serve as a role model to all households. Complementing the seed distribution were lectures on urban gardening to ensure a holistic approach of the program.
- Good documentation and record-keeping. Aside from the efficient implementation of the Barangay Nutrition Action Plan, BNS Rose also possess the skills expected of a BNS must possess. Among her notable skills is her documentation and record-keeping skills. She guarantees that activities are well-documented and BNC records are organized.
The road BNS Rose took also had its thorns—challenges, such as constraints in budget release and the cooperation of the target families. But with the unconditional support and constant efforts of her co-BNSs and the BNC, BNS Rose overcame challenges and emerged as the most outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar in Northern Mindanao, besting 2,000 other BNSs. With a noble intention, she aligned her actions and intentions with her BNC’s vision to improve Barangay Kauswagan’s nutrition landscape. BNS Rose positively influences and inspires lives through good nutrition, and progressing beyond boundaries as an outstanding nutrition volunteer. (NO II Sheena Marie G. Talle)
