29 September 2020, Cagayan de Oro City — Despite the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 10 continually conducts social preparation activities for the Early Childhood Care and Development-First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1K) Program, specifically on Barangay Nutrition Committee (BNC) Orientation to all the barangays of the eight (8) recipient Local Government Units (LGUs) of Bukidnon Province.
Ms. Stephanie C. Barrio, ECCD-F1K Program Provincial Nutrition Coordinator (PNC) for Bukidnon together with the Nutrition Action Officers of the recipient LGUs took the lead in conducting face-to-face orientations to the select BNC members composed of Barangay Chairpersons, Kagawad on Health, Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), Midwives, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairpersons, and School Heads/Principals.
As the orientation was conducted via face-to-face, strict compliance to the minimum health standards were observed such as wearing of face mask and face shield, social distancing, body temperature check, provision of alcohol or sanitizers, bringing of own ballpens, among others.
Topics tapped during the orientation included the program’s background, goals and objectives, program components, operational details, expected support and output from the recipient barangays and the roles of BNC members in the conduct of the program. BNC members were reminded to conduct quarterly meetings, formulate Barangay Nutrition Action Plan and prioritize allocating funds for nutrition, especially on the activities First 1000 Days. Focal persons of each barangay particularly the BNSs and midwives were informed that a separate orientation would be conducted to tackle reporting system and other technical matters.
The increasing COVID-19 positive cases in the entire province of Bukidnon hampered the conduct of the upcoming BNC orientations, thus postponing the same activity for the other areas. Out of the eight recipient LGUs, only the municipalities of Libona and Kadingilan and the cities of Valencia and Malaybalay were able to push through with their roll-out orientations. Manolo Fortich through their NAO Christy Marie Alsado already oriented their BNSs and midwives during one of their capacity building activities. However, a separate orientation will be conducted to the other identified BNC members. The remaining three municipalities (Sumilao, Kibawe and Quezon) are set to pursue their BNC orientation either through virtual platform, through video presentations and other alternative ways coping with the “new normal”.
BNC orientation is part of the program’s preparatory phase, being the barangays as the end-point recipients who will play the most important roles specifically in assessing, monitoring, evaluating and supporting the implementation of the program. It is also an opportunity to gain the support of BNC members to advocate nutrition and the importance of First 1000 Days to address stunting and other forms of malnutrition.
To date, LGUs are on the process of consolidating their list of beneficiaries. Signing of the Memoranda of Agreement and updating of Work and Financial Plans are ongoing. Participating BNC members were also instructed to orient their co-BNC members regarding the program and identify the lot that will be utilized for the communal garden.
NNC X is looking forward to gaining the BNCs’ full support in all phases of the ECCD-F1K program implementations. Through the ECCD-F1K Program, BNC members are envisioned to advocate and invest in nutrition particularly on the First 1000 Days to help reduce prevalence of stunting and other forms of malnutrition and contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth. (PNC Stephanie C. Barrio)
