Cebu City – Close to 500 Barangay Nutrition Scholars in Central Visayas braved the Supertyphoon Yolanda to attend the 9th Regional Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ Congress last November 7 to 8, 2013 at the New White Gold House, Cebu City. The regional event was organized by the Federation of Barangay Nutrition Scholars’ Association of Region 7, Incorporated (FeBaNuSA 7, Inc.) together with the National Nutrition Council Region VII. Now on its 9th year, the congress aimed to: a) update Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) on relevant information related to their tasks as frontline nutrition workers at the barangay level, b) provide a venue for members of FeBaNuSA 7 to convene into a general assembly to discuss various concerns of the Federation, c) strengthen camaraderie among BNSs, and d) provide eye care services to registered members.
The Barangay Nutrition Scholar is a barangay-based volunteer worker responsible for delivering nutrition services and other related activities such as community health, backyard food production, environmental sanitation, culture, mental feeding, and family planning to the barangay. BNS is a scholar because he/she has to continue to learn and upgrade his/her knowledge in order to perform his/her roles in community nutrition work. BNS is a volunteer because he/she is delivering nutrition and related services to the community without compensation.
Cebu Vice-Governor Agnes A. Magpale served as the Keynote Speaker. She elaborated on the Congress theme “BNS; Kaabag sa Pagsabwag sa Hustong Nutrisyon!” Also, the 2012 National Outstanding BNS, Ms. Felisa J. Guilingan of Barangay Guinles, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte gave an inspirational message.
Topics discussed included “Positive Health and Nutrition Deviance” by Ms. Eureka P. Fuentes, Health & Nutrition Specialist, Visayas, World Vision Dev. Foundation, Inc.; “Records Management” by Ms. Susan Y. Orpilla, NO III, NNC 7 and; “Personality Development” by Ms. Evangeline B. Geraldez, Chief Dietitian, Cebu Adventist Hospital and President of the Phil. Association of Nutrition Cebu Chapter. // DFB
