MEMBERS of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) convened recently to deliberate the result of evaluation of the annual Search for Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
There are six contenders for the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (ROBNS) title namely Easel Ledesma of Penarrubia, Abra; Magdalena Sacpa of Kapangan, Benguet; Love-In Laga of Aguinaldo, Ifugao; Ellen Lingayo of Pasil, Kalinga; Purita Perez of Queen of Peace, Baguio City, and Milagros Cabe of Tabuk City.
Each of the contenders was evaluated and rated based on the comparison of their annual accomplishments and the targets set in her BNS action plan following the basic tasks of identifying and locating target beneficiaries, delivering services, surveillance of identified and interventions done to identified malnourished children and credit will be given to performance of additional activities such as more frequent weighing of all pre-school children and assistance in other barangay nutrition activities.
The first ranking BNS with a final rating of 90 percent and higher will be declared ROBNS and will be given a trophy and cash award during the Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony to be announced soon.
She will also have a chance to be evaluated for the National OBNS Award.
BNS are volunteer community workers who are trained to implement health and nutrition programs in a locality. Their major tasks are: to determine the nutrition status of young children through Operation Timbang, formulate action plans with the Barangay Nutrition Council, referrals of malnourished women and children, assist in supplemental feeding for day-care pupils, Gulayan sa Paaralan projects, deworming and immunization of preschool children, distribution of multivitamins, backyard food production and environmental sanitation.
They also serve as link between the community, service providers, and organizations working to improve the nutrition status in the barangays.
The search for the regional as well as the national outstanding barangay nutrition scholar award is conducted annually to award barangay nutrition scholars for their exemplary and untiring works as nutrition frontliner.
The RNET will have its final meeting today to determine the ROBNS and the Green Banner Awardee. (Maria Aprila Cruz)