Sunday, July 27, 2008 Search on for outstanding nutrition coordinator
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Rotary Club of Central Pampanga, in cooperation with Nutrition and Livelihood Resource Center Inc. (Nutrilinc), has launched the search for the Outstanding School Nutrition Coordinator.
The activity aims to recognize efforts of local health councils throughout the province in providing right nutrition for schoolchildren.
The program's launching, held at the Benigno Aquino Hall last Friday, was led by Rotary Central Pampanga president Jeng Bonifacio and Nutrilinc director Rosemarie Herrera along with various municipal nutrition councils.
According to Bonifacio, malnutrition among schoolchildren is higher compared to pre-schoolers.
"The implementation of a comprehensive school nutrition program is a daunting task that requires the involvement of different stakeholders in the community.
It is therefore but proper to recognize innovative and successful initiatives in this regard," she said.
Herrera, for her part, said Nutrilinc will form an evaluation team that would look into the qualifications of the candidates.
"It is in the school setting where the programs to combat malnutrition actually takes place. And it is the school nutrition coordinators that are tasked to do this job and they go along doing it without much recognition," she added.
The organizers said that the search would serve as en encouragement among nutrition coordinators.
It would also encourage school and community officials to streamline their respective nutrition programs.
Criteria for the search include active involvement in the municipal nutrition councils and the barangay nutrition councils.
The nominee should also exhibit the ability to involve other stakeholders in the school nutrition program and implementation of key nutrition program activities like Supplemental Feeding Program as prescribed by the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC).
The nominee should have initiated "healthy snacking" campaign, particularly advocacy for all natural foods, and food production activities.
This includes nutrition education sessions for parents of malnourished children as well as on-time submission of reports.
The nutrition coordinator must be nominated by their respective municipal nutrition councils.
The nominated schools will be assessed by the screening committee to be formed by the PNC, according to Bonifacio.
"We will be giving trophies and goods for the School Feeding Program and cash gift for the school nutrition coordinator," he added. (IOF)
