Makati City – In order to ensure collection of timely, reliable, accurate and precise Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus data, the OPT Plus Team shall follow a proposed flow chart as embodied in the Manual of Operation in the conduct of OPT Plus. This was one of the topics discussed during the OPT Plus Manual of Operations training conducted on 12-16 December 2022 at Tiara Oriental Hotel, Makati City, of which NNC 7 attended.

The protocol of Operation Timbang Plus flowchart have five (5) major activities and should be strictly executed to obtain quality data. As part of the preparation, the barangays shall assign supervisor for the conduct of OPT plus.

First activity: Pre-OPT Plus Protocol where the OPT Plus team is to be organized and trained. The planning phase will start by July giving ample of time to prepare for the conduct of OPT during the first quarter of the following year.  Part of the first activity is for the measurer to be a Certified OPT plus measurer, master listing of 0–59-month-old children, spot mapping, and calibration and verification of the tool/equipment to be used.

Second activity: OPT Plus Anthropometric Measurement involves the actual weighing, length/height taking of children 0-59 months old using the calibrated and verified recommended tools and equipment’s following the correct OPT plus data collection protocol. It is stated in the protocol that weights, length, or height data recording in the OPT plus form should have one (1) decimal place (0.0). during the conduct of the activity active case finding of malnourished children is conducted with the immediate feedbacking to parents or guardians.

Watch out for the remaining activities of the OPT Plus Protocol in the next series. // DMO II Christine Lopez, RND