Ashley P.

Claur
BSN2F

An Evaluation of the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS)

Program based on the Principles of Primary Health Care

Description

The Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program is a human resource

development strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, which
involves the recruitment, training, deployment and supervision of volunteer
workers or barangay nutrition scholars (BNS). Presidential Decree No. 1569
mandated the deployment of one BNS in every barangay in the country to
monitor the nutritional status of children and/or link communities with
nutrition and related service providers. PD 1569 also mandated the NNC to
administer the program in cooperation with local government units.

Objectives

To be able to deliver nutrition and nutrition-related services to the barangay

by caring for the malnourished and the nutritionally vulnerable, mobilizing the
community, and linkage building.

Target Population/ Client

•Children 0-5 years old

•Pregnant and lactating women

The Basic Tasks of the BNS  

•Caring for the malnourished

•Mobilizing the community •Keeping records
•Linkage-building •BNS assists in delivering nutrition & related services

EVALUATION:
a. 4A's of health services (Is the program adhering to the principle
of affordability? accessibility? acceptability - in terms of culture and
tradition? availability- is it constantly present in the health
institution or assigned institution?
Yes, this program completely observed the 4A’s of health services. Firstly, in
terms of accessibility and affordability wherein the volunteer workers or the
BNS staffs itself locates the malnourished children. They use a community
survey called "Operation Timbang Plus" to find and identify these target
children in a certain barangay that they chose to cater. Secondly, in terms of
the acceptability the BNS doesn’t have any word against the culture and
traditions of the population, hence they cater their needs equally and that
they organize the community into a network of 20-25 households so that they
could keep track for the improvement of their nutrition’s situation. Lastly, in
terms of the availability, this program is provided in a organized manner.
b.   Support Mechanism and Multi-sectoral approach (Does it utilize
a support mechanism in terms of implementation? What sectors are
involved? What form of support is provided by these sectors?) Are
the 3 C's observed?
I think based on what I have researched, BNS does link with the barangay
service providers who has the capacity to deliver nutrition services to the
community, hence linkage-building is observed. Moreover, BNS also had an
effective coordination across the local government, including the health,
agriculture, social welfare and development, and education sectors in order to
carry out the program successfully, including the development partners and
the country’s private sector. Therefore saying that 3 out of 3 C’s from the PHC
requirement are completely observed which are the collaboration,
communication and cooperation.
c.   Community participation - How is this initiated or promoted by
the program? Are the people in the community encouraged or given
the opportunity to participate or just passive recipients of the
program/health care?
This program is being implemented through a series of arrangement with the
barangay captain according to House Bill No.6427 Sec. 5 “The BNS shall assist
the barangay captain in organizing or reactivating the barangay nutrition
committee and the barangay network in training purok leaders to assist the
BNS”. Furthermore, the people or the target participants/clients are chosen
according to children with 0-5 years of age, and pregnant and lactating
women. Fortunately, yes people in the community specifically the target
clients are highly encouraged and indeed cooperative.

d.   Equitable distribution of health resources - Are the resources

required in this program readily available? What about budget
allocation? Is it appropriate for the program (may include this if
data is available) What about the health personnel needed to carry
out this program?  What is the reach or extent of availability? Is it
made available to majority of the people?
All the BNS staff are trained volunteer community worker who have passed all
the qualification requirement due to its certain qualities that they possess and
is needed to this kind of duty. According to National Nutrition Council (2021),
a BNS receives a modest monthly traveling allowance from the NNC in Manila,
and from provincial, city, municipal or barangay governments.  The amount of
the allowance varies depending on the financial capability of the LGUs.  In
addition, the NNC provides survivorship assistance for the families of
deceased BNSs, and medical assistance to BNSs who have been confined in a
medical facility. Additionally, according to Presidential decree 1569 Sec. 6
Benefits. The barangay nutrition scholar shall be granted a civil service
eligibility equivalent to second grade after the completion of at least two
years of continuous and satisfactory service in the barangay. He shall also be
entitled to a training stipend, kit and travel allowance of at least P120.00 a
year, and in addition thereto, such other allowances that the municipality may
grant but not exceeding P150.00 a month. Hence, they indeed receive a well-
deserved incentives and benefits. Furthermore, all their resources are mainly
provided and coordinated by the National Nutrition Council or also known as
the NNC and yes this program is made available to all specifically to those
target clients in the community or barangay.
e.  Appropriate technology? - It is what the community needs?
reflect on the different criteria? Does the  program adhere to these
criteria?

REFERENCES

Department of Health (n.d). Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program.

Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph/health-program/BNS

Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (2021). Volunteers

for Healthier Children: The Barangay Nutrition Scholars. Retrieved from
https://www.pnvsca.gov.ph/?p=583

Republic of the Philippines National Nutrition Council. Barangay Nutrition

Scholar (BNS) Program. Retrieved from https://www.nnc.gov.ph/plans-and-
programs/barangay-nutrition-scholar-bns-program

The Lawphil Project (n.d). Presidential Decree No. 1569. Retrieved from
https://lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1978/pd_1569_1978.html
Zabat, P. (2014). Health Care Programs. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/lopao1024/health-care-programs