Bohol Province – On 13-14 October 2021, the Sikatuna Municipal Nutrition Committee held an Idol Ko Si Nanay (IKSN) Rollout Training for the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) presidents of the 10 barangays in the municipality.

It was conducted by the Human Resources for Health in Nutrition (HRH-N), Ms. Franz Cassandra R. Ontina, RND and Ms. Annie Claire B. Añasco, RND. Idol Ko Si Nanay (IKSN) is one program that under the Early Childhood Care and Development – First 1000 Days (ECCD-F1KD). The orientation training used the Idol Ko Si Nanay Facilitator’s Guide that has 10 modules and 25 learning sessions, focusing on the key points for discussion and the activities to be conducted in each learning session.

A welcome message was given by the Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator of Sikatuna, Mrs. Alicia J. Ellorimo, at the start of the program. The BNSs and BHWs were also asked about their expectations of the activity and most of them answered “to learn how to conduct Idol Ko Si Nanay and hopefully rollout the activity to their barangays.” 

During the two-day rollout training orientation, the BNSs and BHWs were very participative in the discussion, even sharing their knowledge in child-rearing and the difficulties they encountered along the way. It is known that aside from being a frontline health and nutrition workers, they are mothers themselves. 

IKSN is expected to be rolled out to the 10 barangays of Sikatuna by the end of the year to the first quarter of 2021. The target participants will be women who are planning to get pregnant, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. IKSN aims to educate mothers and caregivers and contribute to reducing stunting and other forms of malnutrition in the municipality. // ND II Franz Cassandra R. Ontina, RND