Committee on Health Hon. Maria Asuncion Daquio (in pink shirt), MNPC Gemma Inguito (in black scrub suit), RHM Cleofe Doterte (in red shirt) pose after distribution of certificates to the participants in Barangay Poblacion, Corella
Tagbilaran City, Bohol – The Corella Municipal Nutrition Committee (MNC) continually conducts capability-building activities for its volunteer workers for nutrition in the barangay. One of which was Child Growth Standard (CGS) refresher course and Phil. Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (PIMAM) orientation which was held on 19-20 February 2024 at Corella training center. The said activity was participated by 8 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs) and 64 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).
CGS is a course intended primarily for health care providers who measure and assess the growth of children or who supervise these activities. It teaches how to measure weight, length, and height, how to interpret growth indicators, investigate causes of growth problems and counsel caregivers. PIMAM on the other hand, is a training that focuses on the implementation and expansion of quality of treatment of children suffering from the most severe and acute forms of undernutrition and develop their skills, knowledge and attitude required to provide quality services for under nourished children.
BNSs delivers basic nutrition and related services including monitoring of height and weight measurement and nutrition assessment using mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), and in identifying malnourished children in the barangay. They are assisted by the BHW and other members of the Barangay Nutrition Committee.
The most recent activity started with a welcome address from the Committee on Health Hon. Maria Asuncion Daquio. In her message, she emphasized that health and nutrition workers should have the essential skills and knowledge to do the tasks expected of them. Part of the training and orientation was going through the basic steps on how to identify malnourished children, demonstration and return demonstration on weight, height, and MUAC measurement. Also, in interpreting growth indicators and plotting of growth charts and role play as a counselor and as a mother. They were also given information on how to identify severe and acute cases and acquainted them on food commodities to give and forms to be used in the treatment of the patients.
With the continuous training and capability building activities, the MNC Corella is confident that their MAM and SAM cases in the area will be given a new lease of life.