Vitamin A capsule offered to a kid (Source:VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A campaign was launched
in the Red River Delta province of Ninh Binh on May 18 in response to Micronutrient
Day (June 1 and 2).
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health
Nguyen Thanh Long said over the years, that the country and health sector in
particular have paid attention to protecting and caring for people’s health,
including prevention of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency, especially
for women and children.
Thus, the country has reaped significant
achievements, as the rate of malnutrition in under-five children dropped to 13.8
percent in 2016. Vietnam has erased blindness due vitamin A deficiency and
people’s awareness about micronutrient has been improved, Long added.
To tackle remaining challenges, he instructed
People’s Committees of all provinces and centrally-run cities to effectively
implement campaigns providing vitamin A supplements and treatment of helminth
infection, ensuring that 98 percent of children receive the supplements during
the campaign.
Communication campaigns should also be enhanced
to encourage families to join concerted efforts in preventing malnutrition and micronutrient
deficiency as well as ensuring food security, said the official.
According to Director of the National Institute
of Nutrition Le Danh Tuyen, nearly 1 million under-five children
have seen improvements in vitamin A deficiency each year thanks to the biannual
provision of for children between 6 and 36 months old
nationwide and for those between 37 and 60 months old in 22 disadvantaged
provinces.
The provision
of vitamin A for children and post-partum mothers has become an annual activity
in more than 11,000 communes across the country.
This year, more than 6 million children under
five years old will receive vitamin A capsules. In addition, millions of
children between 24-60 months of age in disadvantaged localities will be dewormed.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
