Carmen, Cebu – The Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) of Carmen, Cebu refreshes their Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) thru the conduct of a refresher training on the BNS Basic Course. This is to update their knowledge and skills to deliver and perform their roles in the community as nutrition workers. The refresher course was held on 1-2 December 2022 at Durhan Beach Resort in Tabuelan. It was attended by 21 BNSs.
NDPs Macrose Brigoli and Nessa Mae D. Jorquia, ND II Geraldine Mae Pausanos, and Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinator (MNPC) Pinky Capangpangan facilitated the 2-day training. The training team employed different teaching methodologies to impart the key information for these nutrition heroes including role-playing, return demonstration, etc. To measure the learning of the participants, pre and post-tests were conducted.
BNSs are the community's front-line nutrition workers. They put in a lot of effort to help the vulnerable sectors in their barangays. A BNS is a volunteer worker who provides free nutrition services as well as other related activities such as family planning, environmental sanitation, backyard gardening, and supplemental feeding, among others.
The MNC make it a point to continually upgrade the knowledge and skills of these frontline nutrition workers to help manage the nutrition program in their respective barangays. Based on the 2022 OPT Plus results, Carmen ranked 6th among the 44 municipalities in Cebu province in underweight and severe underweight statistics, 13th in stunting and severe stunting, 21st in moderate and severe wasting, and ranked 24th in overweight and obesity.
MNPC Capangpangan in her message during the closing program highlighted the importance of continuous learning for BNSs. She also expressed her appreciation to all the participants and trainers alike and encouraged the BNSs to also share the knowledge they gained with their BHW counterparts. She is also hopeful that the 21 trained nutrition workers can now carry out their roles and responsibilities in the community. // ND II Geraldine Mae S. Pausanos, RND
