Mr. Jaime “Boo” M. Iman, Jr., a Barangay Nutrition Scholar from Brgy. Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City, was hailed as the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS) for performance year 2019.

BNS Boo is one of the six (6) nutrition volunteers of Brgy. Pagatpat, with five (5) years of experience as a BNS under his belt. Despite having several co-BNSs in the barangay, BNS Boo was hands-on in coordinating with their Barangay Nutrition Committee to implement their Barangay Nutrition Action Plan.

In Zone 1 where he is assigned, there were no malnourished children recorded for 2019, which is one of the results of his efficient management and exemplary coordination of programs under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. Also, he is a steadfast enabler of nutrition-sensitive programs targeting the children and the youth, being a former youth leader. Below are some of his notable achievements and projects:

• TALA or Tapok-tapok Along sa Kaalam – a brainchild of BNS Boo, Project TALA is an information, education, and communication campaign for residents of all Zones 1-8 on the available health and nutrition services in the barangay. Through TALA, they consolidate the needs and concerns of their constituents so the barangay can address it.
• Feeding and Adopt-a-Child Program – provision of meals for Grade 7 severely wasted students
• Teenage Pregnancy Forum – as the Project Head, the forum targeted adolescents to increase awareness on teenage pregnancy among students in Pagatpat National High School
• Trash to Tsinelas Project – children are encouraged to bring 10 empty plastic bottles, wherein they will be given a pair of slippers in return.
• Sports campaign – the empty plastic bottles also serve as a ticket for the children and youth to be part of Volleyball and Sepak Takraw BNS Boo was a former Palarong Pambasa player.

The plastic bottles collected are being used by the BNC for urban container gardening, of which the barangay is also widely known for.

• Library on Wheels – acted as facilitator by doing storytelling and teaching children how to read

Despite being a teacher, he finds his work in nutrition fulfilling. BNS Boo said that his field experience and encounters helped him enrich his capabilities as a BNS.

BNS Boo draws his inspiration from his advocacy and desire to help the children. “I want to widen the advocacy by focusing on nutrition and related programs because we need to nurture our children for optimum health and growth. Targeting nutrition is a holistic approach and it helps our children perform well in school. This is important as the children and the youth are the hope of our nation.”

Even with BNS Boo’s stellar performance in carrying out his functions, he remains humble by acknowledging the efforts of his BNC, fellow BNSs, and supervisors and mentors from the City Nutrition Office. (NO III Sheena Marie G. Talle)