Under-5 children get free vitamin A capsules during the Micronutrient Day (Source: VNA)TheNational Institute of Nutrition (NIN) said it has distributed around 7.6million doses of vitamin A capsules to serve nearly five million children and500,000 new mothers.
Inaddition, vitamin A capsules will also be given to 1.1 million children who arebetween 37 and 60 months old; while children from 24 to 60 months in 22provinces and cities that have a high rate of stunted growth among childrenwill be de-wormed.
NINdeputy director Truong Tuyet Mai said that preventing micronutrientdeficiencies is one of the six important goals of the National Strategy onNutrition for the period 2011-20.
“Providingmicronutrient supplements to high-risk groups such as children and new mothersis a fast and timely measure to handle the situation of micronutrientdeficiency,” Mai said.
Inaddition, medium-term measures such as adding micronutrient supplements toessential foods, and long-term, sustainable measures such as adding diversefood products to daily meals are being taken to solve the problem ofmicronutrient deficiency in Vietnam, Mai said. “Adding micronutrientsupplements to essential foods is a simple, effective way of improving dailymeals, health, and quality of life.”
Communicationand education will strengthen awareness about nutrition and nutritionalrequirements, and encourage good eating practices among people, Mai said.
Peopleshould incorporate a variety of food sources in their daily meals, especiallyfood rich in micronutrients. New mothers are encouraged to breastfeed theirnewborns within the first one hour of birth, and give their babies no food ordrink other than breast milk for the first six months.
Micronutrientdeficiency is a persistent health problem in Vietnam, and requires properattention and more investment from the Government.
OnMicronutrient Day, dissemination and educational activities will be heldnationwide to raise public awareness about good nutrition and promote foodhygiene and safety.
A2015 NIN survey revealed that 13 percent of the children in the country havevitamin A deficiency, and 32.8 percent of pregnant women are anaemic. Itsstatistics show that the country’s malnutrition rate is 14.1 percent ofchildren under the age of five, and 24.6 percent of children have stuntedgrowth.-VNA
VNA
