Palimbang's Operation Timbang (OPT) coverage based on the 2021 Regional OPT Report is at 45.26% only and ranks 3rd for stunting and 2nd on wasting among the 49 Local Government Units (LGU) in the Region with a prevalence rate of 19.14% 7.15% among 0–59-month pre-school children respectively. Due to the alarming OPT results, the National Nutrition Council (NNC) XII in partnership with the Municipal LGU assessed and validated how the Barangay Nutrition Scholars conducts and records their OPT and identified gaps and challenges in the operationalization of the said activity. The activity mainly aims to assess the accuracy of collection and consolidation of OPT data at the LGU level.
NNC XII through NO III Flores and NO II Utlang facilitated the activity held last January 31, 2022, at Municipal Gymnasium and was attended by 39 Barangay Nutrition Scholars. The NNC XII team conducted data quality check particularly on the data collection and inventory of anthropometric tools available in the Barangay. BNSs were requested to demonstrate how do they usually use the tool in gathering OPT data. The Nutrition officers also facilitated the inventory of nutrition and health related trainings attended by the BNSs.
The activity also served as an avenue to orient the BNSs on the proper use of Mid Upper Arm Circumference Tapes (MUAC) or MUAC screening as part of the annual OPT. Consequently, the BNSs were oriented how to manually compute age in months and interpretation of Nutritional Status using the Child Growth Standard (CGS) tables. Moreover, NOIII Flores also discussed the PPAN 2017 -2022 and the critical interventions during the first 1000 days of a child’s life.
The OPT data serves as reference during the formulation of appropriate policies, identification, and prioritization of nutrition/development interventions to improve nutrition situation of the LGU. It is imperative for the LGU to have a true picture of the severity of malnutrition in the area through an accurate and realistic OPT reports thus NNC recommends conducting a comprehensive training both for the MNC and BNSs of the Municipality to update and upgrade their skills and knowledge on nutrition screening and assessment, program management and monitoring and evaluation. (NOII Utlang/ NOIII Flores/ RNPC Laquihon)
