Dimiao, Bohol – The financially-challenged residents of Dimiao, Bohol were the recent recipients of the project of International Care Ministries (ICM) Foundation. This was made possible when a pastor residing at Abihid, Dimiao made representation to the Foundation having seen the current health and nutrition situation among the residents in his barangay.
Seventeen participants belonging to the poorest of the poor sector of barangay Abihid were trained on topics on malnutrition, health and different diseases, safe motherhood, childhood growth and development, and injury prevention. There were also sessions wherein the participants were taught on different livelihood programs which included putting up different businesses, community savings, improving their cooking and baking skills. Participants during the sessions were be given different seeds then taught on how to set-up and maintain their backyard gardens in their homes to become a source of both their food and livelihood.
After the 15-weeks training conducted every Wednesday of the month started on the 27th of October 2021 is set to finish with graduation rites on the first week of February 2022. The trainers include members of the ICM team with the assistance from the regional nutritionist assigned in the municipality.
The trainees were given manna pack that they could cook at home after every training session. The manna food pack is a combination of rice and soy proteins fortified with different nutrients to supplement their meals particularly their preschool children.
The ICM team also weighed and measured the height of all preschool children in the barangay. Those preschool children found to be malnourished were included in their home-based feeding that would commence in time of with the end of the training. The participating parents were taught on how to make different delicious meals from those manna packs while those children identified as severely acute malnourished were given Ready-To-Use Therapeutic foods. By the end of the food supplementation, the enrolled children’s weight and height will be remeasured to assess the effectiveness of their intervention.
ICM is a non-government organization that helps indigent members of the community. // ND II Marcel John J. Cartin, RND
