4 March 2023, Cagayan de Oro City – A total of 34 participants from the Provincial and City Nutrition Offices, and Nutritionist-Dietitians from the Department of Health attended the Training on Calibration and Verification of Measuring Tools used in Operation Timbang Plus (OPT Plus) held 28 February to 1 March 2023 at Country Village Hotel, this city.
The training was organized and facilitated by National Nutrition Council (NNC) X, with subject matter experts from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) X-Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory (RSTL). Mr. Ronald A. Pangan, Technical Manager, Regional Metrology Laboratory and Ms. Shane Marie S. Clavano, Project Technical Assistant IV/Calibration Officer acted as resource speakers, while Engr. Frumencio B. Quiblat, Jr., Sr. Science Research Specialist and Head of the RSTL gave the Closing Remarks.
Ms. Gladys Mae S. Fernandez, Nutrition Program Coordinator, said that there is a need to use accurate and calibrated growth assessment instruments, and to further verify and validate the data before submission. She added to also utilize the results of the OPT Plus and include it as one of the discussion points during Local Nutrition Committee meetings, among other occasions.
Nutrition Officer Sheena Marie G. Talle gave feedback on the Training on OPT Plus Data Quality Check and Manual of Procedures (MOP) conducted by NNC-Nutrition Surveillance Division last December 2022. She briefly shared the major activities and protocols of OPT Plus per the MOP, and ways forward.
Prior the discussion on calibration and verification procedures for both hanging type weighing scales and length/height boards, Mr. Pangan introduced metrology and the principles of calibration and verification of instruments for better understanding and appreciation of the participants.
Mr. Pangan and Ms. Clavano, together with NNC X staff, assisted the conduct of practical exercises where the participants were grouped into four, and performed verification procedures for weighing scales and length/heightboards used during OPT Plus. A calibration/verification tool from NSD was used by the participants, and the encoded results were later processed by the groups and facilitators.
Participants who passed the Post-Test will be given with Certificate of Completion, otherwise they will receive Certificate of Participation.
In his closing message, Engr. Quiblat shared good news for all Region 10 LGUs for them to avail calibration and verification services from DOST X-RSTL for free. This agreement between Engr. Quiblat and NPC Fernandez will be facilitated by NNC X. Through this effort, the region is taking a big leap closer to better OPT Plus data quality. (Nutrition Officer III Sheena Marie G. Talle / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631091098)
