Second vitamin A supplementation campaign to kick start in early December

Hanoi (VNA) – The second campaign in 2023 to give free vitamin
A supplements to children from 6-35 months nationwide will take
place from December 1, heard a meeting on November 28.

Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition Truong Tuyet Mai said Vietnam has achieved significant achievements
in improving the nutritional conditions of its people, especially the rate of child
malnutrition which has decreased rapidly and sustainably.

According to annual
, the rate of among children decreased
from 33.8% in 2000 to 14.1% in 2015 and only 11.6% in 2020.

Vietnam has also eradicated blindness due to vitamin A
deficiency. Meanwhile, public awareness of nutrition and the
nutritional knowledge and practices of people have improved.

However, the rate of malnutrition and stunting in children under 5 years old remains high, at
19.6% in 2020, and there are disparities among regions. The rate of overweight
and obesity in school-age children (5 – 19 years old) increased from 8.5% in
2010 to 19.0% in 2020.

 

Moreover, the rates of micronutrient deficiencies among women and children are still alarming, with under-five children and women suffering from nutrition anaemia accounting for 19.6% and 25.6%, respectively. Meanwhile, 9.5% of under-five children suffer from vitamin A deficiency and the rate of zinc deficiency in children is 58%, according to the 2019-2020 national nutrition survey. 

Dr. Vu Van Tan from the National
Institute of Nutrition said that Vitamin A
supplementation is essential for the health and comprehensive development of
children.

According to Tan, through
two annual campaigns to provide vitamin A supplements for children from 6-59
months nationwide, the rate of children receiving vitamin A regularly is
maintained at over 98% (equivalent to more than 6 million children). High-dose
vitamin A supplementation for children has become an annual activity in more
than 11,000 communes and wards nationwide.

All localities nationwide implemented the first campaign this year as planned, giving
to 2,747,349 children from 6-35 months, and 2,265,727
children from 6-59 months, equivalent to 99.0%, and 99.1% of the total, respectively.

As many as 653,134 children without permanent residence and those at high risk of vitamin A deficiency also received vitamin A
supplements in this campaign./.