SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) play a key role in the implementation of nutrition programs.

The BNS reach out to poor households in remote villages and upland areas to bring governments health and nutrition services, said Jemma M. Bacongallo, president of Provincial Association of Barangay Nutrition Scholars in Antique.

Crossing rivers, walking through slippery roads and steep slopes just to reach far-flung communities during Operation Timbang, Parents Nutrition Classes among other activities is a great challenge to us BNS, Bacongallo said.

She said the BNS are inspired most by the thought that we are not working just for our honorarium or reward, but we are on a mission to empower families to become more caring to their children by putting priority to their health, nutrition and education.

Antique has 642 BNS covering 590 barangays, 19 of which are in the island town of Caluya, 3 are in the island barangays of Culasi and most are in the upland areas of the province.

There are barangays especially with big populations that have two or more BNS but most have only one BNS with sitios (villages) located far from each other.

What made the Province of Antique more challenging is the fact that it ranked no. 1 in Region 6 in terms of malnutrition, said Bacongallo.

We have done our best, and remain committed to work hard, however, attending to the health and nutrition problems is no joke. We need more resources, health workers and most importantly cooperation of families, she added.

We are glad that the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a Memorandum Circular to all Punong Barangays not to replace us with their own appointees every time the new Punong Barangay is elected, if we are still active in performing our task, said Bacongallo.

As we pledged to do the best we can, she said, we appeal to the local officials to be kind and understanding to our needs, much more our safety while performing our duties.

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