The three-day Refresher Course on IYCF Counselling and Community Support with Gender Concerns was conducted last March 5-7, 2013 at Eurotel Hotel, Makati City. All Nutrition Program Coordinators with Nutrition officers from different regions were invited as participants on the said training. NPC Nona Tad-y and two NO I Sheryl Sedantes and Karen Joy Sargado were attendees from Region VI.
This refresher course was intended for NNC regional staff to be prepared for the roll out training for the IYCF counsellors and community support group. The main topics discussed were the Overview of the IYCF Strategic Plan and Updates, Overview of Community Support for IYCF, Guide or Steps on Mobilizing the Community Support for IYCF, and Nutrition and Gender Concerns.
Facilitators or resource persons included were Ms. Jovita B. Raval, NO V and Chief NIED-NNC, Ms. Ana Maria B. Rosaldo, NO III, NIED-NNC, Ms. Ma. Katrina A. Demetrio, NO II, NIED-NNC, Ms. Alona E. Teo, NO II, NSD-NNC, Ms. Vicenta E. Borja, Supervising Health Program Officer and IYCF National Coordinator, NCDPC-DOH, Dr. Shari Ludovina L. Sabalvaro, Medical Officer V and IYCF Coordinator, Mandaluyong City, Ms. Socorro Alma F. Gammad, Chief, Nutrition Office of the Makati City Health Department, and Ms. Mary Juliet Labitigan, National COMBI Officer, WHO.
Part of the course was a practicum where participants practiced the use of IYCF Counselling cards and observation checklist to mothers with 0-24 month old children in Blk 37, Mandaluyong City. An observation visit to Milk Bank at Brgy. Bancal, Makati City was also done by the participants.
The refresher course intends to train by July the provincial, city, and municipal IYCF Councelors on how to mobilize Community Support Group and the use of IYCF Counselling cards during the IYCF Peer Counselling.
