Vitamin A for kids, mothers on Micronutrient Day

Under-5 get free vitamin A capsules during the Micronutrient Day (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Children between 6- 36 months of age and new mothers
will get free supplements in a on the occasion of
Micronutrient Day (June 1 and 2).

The
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) said it has distributed around 7.6
million doses of vitamin A capsules to serve nearly five million children and
500,000 new mothers.

In
addition, vitamin A capsules will also be given to 1.1 million children who are
between 37 and 60 months old; while children from 24 to 60 months in 22
provinces and cities that have a high rate of stunted growth among children
will be de-wormed.

NIN
deputy director Truong Tuyet Mai said that preventing micronutrient
deficiencies is one of the six important goals of the National Strategy on
Nutrition for the period 2011-20.

“Providing
micronutrient supplements to high-risk groups such as children and new mothers
is a fast and timely measure to handle the situation of micronutrient
deficiency,” Mai said.

In
addition, medium-term measures such as adding micronutrient supplements to
essential foods, and long-term, sustainable measures such as adding diverse
food products to daily meals are being taken to solve the problem of
micronutrient deficiency in Vietnam, Mai said. “Adding micronutrient
supplements to essential foods is a simple, effective way of improving daily
meals, health, and quality of life.”

Communication
and education will strengthen awareness about nutrition and nutritional
requirements, and encourage good eating practices among people, Mai said.

People
should incorporate a variety of food sources in their daily meals, especially
food rich in micronutrients. New mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their
newborns within the first one hour of birth, and give their babies no food or
drink other than breast milk for the first six months.

Micronutrient
deficiency is a persistent health problem in Vietnam, and requires proper
attention and more investment from the Government.

On
, dissemination and educational activities will be held
nationwide to raise public awareness about good nutrition and promote food
hygiene and safety.

A
2015 NIN survey revealed that 13 percent of the children in the country have
vitamin A deficiency, and 32.8 percent of pregnant women are anaemic. Its
statistics show that the country’s malnutrition rate is 14.1 percent of
children under the age of five, and 24.6 percent of children have stunted
growth.-VNA