BOKOD, Benguet – To support the health and nutrition initiatives of the municipality, the DOST- PSTO-Benguet organized a two-day Training on Health and Nutrition for Bokod Smarter Health Services: Malnutrition Reduction on May 31 – June 1, 2023 held at the MHSO Conference Hall, Poblacion, Bokod and at Lolo Cancio’s Conference Hall, Inidian, Ambuklao, Benguet.
Barangay nutrition scholars and municipal health care workers of Bokod attended the capacity building activity.
Bokod Mayor Representative Emiliano Agosto commended the dedication of the participants for attending the activity despite the bad weather. He further challenged the health workers to disseminate and apply their learnings in their respective areas.
DOST-PSTO Director Sheila Marie Singa-Claver presented that the activity is a part of the assistance under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) project – Health and Nutrition entry point for Bokod.
Nutritionists and Dietitians from the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute Dr. Josefina Gonzales and Emily Rongavilla shared their expertise on the DOST PINOY feeding program, meal planning, food safety, and complementary feeding.
The DOST-FNRI developed complementary foods for children such as BIGMO -bigas-mongo blend, rice-mongo-sesame blend, and RIMO – rice-mongo curls were discussed and food preparation was demonstrated.
As a way forward, Dr. Lilian Velasco, Municipal Health Officer of Bokod, expressed their interest to adopt the DOST-FNRI complementary food (RIMO).
On behalf of Bokod Mayor Thomas Wales Jr., Dr. Velasco also extended their appreciation to the DOST, as she stated the impact of the initiatives on health and nutrition that, “Healthy children begets healthy municipality”.
Aside from Health and Nutrition, other CEST entry points for the municipality include Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation, Livelihood – product development of indigenous product- bubod of Nawal, Human Resource Development through ST support to Technical Livelihood Education for the sewing project of Ambangeg National High School. By DOST-CAR
