Roots to Shoots (RTS), a health and nutrition synergy program among Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), World Vision Philippines (WV), and Manila Water Foundation (MWF), honored the dedication and service of barangay health workers (BHW) and barangay nutrition scholars (BNS) in Bombon and Pasacao, Camarines Sur in celebration of the Nutrition Month.
Recognizing the crucial role of barangay health care workers in the fight against malnutrition, the RTS team celebrated their commitment as program partners at a recognition program held at Barangay Pagao San Francisco, Barangay San Jose, and Barangay Siembre in Bombon on July 22 and Pasacao Central School in Pasacao on July 23.
In the first half of the pilot run of RTS, the barangay health care workers BNS and BHW are key in reaching out to community members who are mothers of undernourished children by facilitating capacity-building activities provided by RTS on proper hygiene practices, mother and child care, and home gardening. In addition to these learning sessions, the barangay health care workers BNS and BHW are the stewards of the handwashing facilities that were constructed in the first year of RTS.
For this year, the BNS and BHW supported the community data gathering for the sanitation phase by identifying toilet-less households in Bombon and Pasacao.
At the recognition event, the RTS team handed out certificates and RTS tokens to acknowledge the dedicated service of the volunteers. Each received a certificate of appreciation, a grocery pack, 25 kgs of rice and a call and data load voucher. Bombon Municipal Mayor Hon. Maria Luisa DC. Angeles, Pasacao Municipal Administrator Felix Morandarte Jr. as well as representatives of the Rural Health Units, PSFI, MWF and WV graced the event.
This is the program team's salute to the community volunteers who generously support the goals of Roots to Shoots.