Guardian of nutrition

TACLOBAN City—Her routine has been the same for the past seven years. After attending to the needs of her husband and four children, Memon Bulactiar steps out of her house in Limasawa town, Southern Leyte, to take care of her other “family.”

Bulactiar, who is in her late 40s, is a barangay nutrition scholar (BNS) of Cabulihan in Limasawa. Although it is a volunteer work, she sees it more as a service that she must perform—rain or shine.

She would hold “Pabasa sa Barangay” or reading session on proper nutrition to promote the practice of breast-feeding, especially to expectant women. She would also advise pregnant women and conduct “Operation Timbang” or weighing young children to determine their nutritional state, among other health services.

She organized the barangay nutrition committee and facilitated the preparation of a barangay action plan.

The hard work has paid off; malnutrition in Cabulihan went down.

For her dedication and commitment, Bulactiar was named outstanding BNS in both provincial and regional levels. Aside from a plaque and a trophy, she received P4,000 in cash as provincial winner and P8,000 as regional winner.

Bulactiar says she will be happier if Congress approves the Magna Carta of Barangay Nutrition Scholars. A draft of the law was presented to Representative Roger Mercado of the lone district of Southern Leyte during the holding of the first BNS Congress in Tacloban City on July 28.

Dr. Edgardo Gonzaga, regional health director and chairman of the regional nutrition committee, said the magna carta would institutionalize the BNS throughout the country.