Barangay Nutrition Scholars from selected municipalities of Palawan and Puerto Princesa gave their gratitude to National Nutrition Council – MiMaRoPA for the skills and knowledge they acquired during the conduct of Training on Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars.
The training for BNSs of Puerto Princesa was held at 17-21 April 2017 at Ponce de Leon Resort, Puerto Princesa City which was attended by 21 BNSs from the different barangays of Puerto Princesa. The training was facilitated by City Nutrition Action Officer (CNAO) Estela May B. Rodriguez with the aid of Nutrition Officer III of NNC – MiMaRoPa, Ms. Hannah Christina P. Clemente.
For Palawan Province, the training was held at 8-12 May 2017 at Katrinka’s Kitchen, Puerto Princesa City which was attended by 37 BNSs from selected municipalities of Palawan namely Agutaya and Magsaysay. For the BNS Training for Palawan, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) Ms. Rachel T. Paladan served as the primary facilitator supported by District Nutrition Program Coordinator (DNPC) Ms. Lucita F. Padul, and Nurse I of the Provincial Nutrition Office Ms. Trixia N. Roy. NNC – MiMaRoPa was represented by Mr. Francis Erik P. Bacena, Nutrition Officer I.
The five-day training consists of modules designed to capacitate knowledge and skills of BNS. The modules were: 1) The Barangay Nutrition Scholars Program; 2) Basic Concepts on Food and Nutrition; 3) Developing Skills of the BNSs needed in performing the roles and tasks of BNSs; 4) Situating the Barangay Nutrition Program Management in the Local Development System; and 5) The BNSs in Action.
Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) are community-based volunteers who assist in the delivery of nutrition and related services in the barangays. They are tasked in monitoring the nutritional status of preschool children and taking care of the undernourished, assist in the delivery of nutrition and nutrition related services, serve as link to between families and service providers in the community, and mobilize the community to form organizations that would help in improving the nutrition situation in the barangay. BNSs are also tasked in the safekeeping of records of nutritional data and nutrition and health profile of families in the barangay.
To further improve the capacity of BNSs in performing their roles and task effectively and efficiently, the NNC, as mandated by Presidential Decree (PD) 1569, is tasked to administer capacity development trainings to BNSs. Through the close coordination with the local government units (LGUs) of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City, NNC-MiMaRoPa conducted two separate batches of Training on Basic Course for Barangay Nutrition Scholars for Puerto Princesa City and Palawan.
The learnings of the BNSs of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City from the Training on Basic Course for BNSs reinforced their knowledge and skills which they can use to further improve their assessment of the nutritional status in their respective barangays that can consequently enhance the targeting for nutrition program implementation in Palawan and Puerto Princesa City.
