Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental – After the monthlong Nutrition Month activities and the Local MELLPI last July, the Municipal Nutrition Committee thru the Municipal Health Office of Santa Catalina conducted a 3-day BNS Basic Course training held on 17-19 August 2022 at Bahay Kubo Resort, Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental. Twenty-five (25) Nutrition Heroes of the municipality were trained with the goal to arrest the increasing number of wasted and stunted children in the municipality.

On the first day of the training, Basic Nutrition, the Roles and Functions of a BNS and the Barangay Nutrition Program were discussed.  Their roles and functions including the proper ways of measuring the height and weight of children was emphasized. They also had a Problem-Solving seatwork and taught on how to compute the age in months and identify a child’s nutrition status with the use of the Child Growth Charts.

The second day was an interactive day for the BNSs where they had games and group activities as the 7 skills of a BNS were elaborated. The BNS forms were also introduced to them for their reports and record keeping.

On the last day, the Municipal BNS of the year awardee, Ms. Donessa Patambag from Barangay Cawitan was given the chance to share her tips and bits of advice to her fellow BNSs on how she handled the nutrition program with an outstanding accomplishment in her barangay. All the BNSs were also given the chance to speak as they share good practices from their barangays.

The 3-day BNS training was made possible through the efforts of MHO/MNAO, Dr. Iagn Neil D. Velarde and PHN/MNPC, Ms. Loryjean D. Necio, RN. NDs II Jhianne Tugaoen, Chutsvieka Pacatang, and Raya Luce of NNC 7-DOH-CVCHD facilitated the training. The team capacitated the BNSs as they are the frontliners of the nutrition program in the barangay. // ND II Jhianne Mae Nicole C. Tugaoen, RND