Dimiao, Bohol - Every year, the Municipal Nutrition Committee of this one of the oldest towns in Bohol province requires all the barangay nutrition committees to make Barangay Nutrition Action Plans (BNAPs) as part of their routine.
The BNAP contains all the programs that are relevant to nutrition needs of the population, the specific agencies that are responsible for the implementation of these nutrition programs, the budget needed and the specific sources of funds for the implementation of these nutrition programs. The BNAP also shows the target population of these nutrition programs, the number of recipients or outcomes the program hopes to achieve, and the timelines for the completion of these programs.
To equip the Barangay Nutrition Councils (BNCs) with knowledge on how to formulate their BNAPs, it is best to train the BNC members first on how to come up with a well-planned BNAP, said Municipal Nutrition Action Officer Darlene D. Magtajas, RSW.
Most of the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) have already undergone planning workshop conducted by the provincial nutrition council and facilitated by the Regional Nutrition Committee thru the NNC 7. However, the BNSs admitted that the planning workshop they previously attended were not enough for them to prepare quality nutrition action plans for their barangay since there was a limited time during the workshop. There were also several new BNSs who were hired and appointed last year, and the older BNSs also admitted the need refresher session.
Recognizing the gap, the Municipal Nutrition Committee conducted a BNAP refresher training at the Municipal Conference Hall. Originally scheduled in December 2021 but moved to 09 February 2022 because of the onslaught of typhoon Odette that also hit the municipality. District Nutrition Program Coordinator Ivonne Vine P. Reyes, RND, and the Regional Nutritionist-Dietitian assigned to their municipality Marcel John J. Cartin assisted the training team in the session.
With the refresher session conducted, the MNC of Dimiao expects to see a more responsive nutrition plans that would help improve the nutrition landscape of the municipality. // ND II Marcel John J. Cartin, RND
