ILOILO – “You are the frontliners of the frontliners. Salamat sa inyo tanan sa pag-agwanta pulaw. Ang inyo obra tama gid ka importante.”
For their untiring sacrifices to implement the nutrition programs of the provincial government, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed his gratitude to all barangay nutrition scholars (BNS).
During the first day of the first Barangay Nutrition Scholars Convention on Tuesday, July 11, at the Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo City, Defensor hailed all 1,554 BNS from the province’s five districts for their efforts in addressing Iloilo’s nutrition challenges.
“Let us work together in the implementation of our nutrition programs,” he said.
Defensor also underscored the vital roles played by the volunteer workers as barangay functionaries, particularly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The BNS were stationed in COVID-19 centers to augment the medical workers.
Presidential Decree No. 1569 mandates the creation of the Barangay Nutrition Scholar Program in every barangay.
The BNS are barangay-based volunteer workers 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.
They are called “scholars” because they undergo continuous learning under the program. During the convention, there were technical sessions on promoting mental health among BNS, practical tips on personality development and communication skills enhancement, and values formation and moral recovery.
Moreover, the provincial government provides P4,000 cash incentives to each BNS every December.
The first BNS convention organized by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) aims to provide a venue for BNS to gather for capacity development, learning exchange, networking, and fellowship.
There were technical sessions on providing more effective nutrition services. Among the topics discussed were: promoting mental health among BNS, practical tips on personality development and communication skills enhancement for BNS, inspiring BNS to take action in the community on preventing malnutrition, some inspiration on becoming nutrition champions, and a session on values formation and moral recovery.
“Tion man ini para magtipon-tipon, ma-fellowship, and networking kay sa bilog nga tuig ang aton BNS naga-obra gid para sa aton nutrition program,” said Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Wendel Tupas-Marcelo.
The convention was also part of the 49th Nutrition Month Celebration of the provincial government and the IPHO.
This year’s celebration has a sub-theme, “Mga Katutubo sa Nutrisyon, Kayo ang Bida Ngayon.” (With a report from Capitol News)/PN
