Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Children from 6-60 months in 22
provinces having high stunted growth rates will be given free vitamin A
supplements on the National Micronutrient Day (June 1-2), Director of the National
Institute of Nutrition (NIN) Le Danh Tuyen said on May 25.
The national drive also provide for
children from 6-36 months in the remaining 41 cities and provinces, children at risk of micronutrient
deficiency (malnourished and sick), and postpartum mothers, Tuyen said.
During the campaign, children aged from 24 months to less
than 60 months in the 22 localities will also be dewormed, the health official
said, adding that the information work will be intensified to raise public
awareness of and .
The distribution of vitamin A supplements has become an
annual activity at 11,000 wards and communes nationwide, benefiting nearly 1
million under-five children each year.
The NIN reported that the number of under-five children
suffering from underweight in Vietnam dropped from 30.1 percent in 2000 to 14.1
percent in 2015 and only 13.8 percent in 2016.
Vietnam has also eradicated blindness due to vitamin A deficiency
and improved public awareness about micro-nutrient, the institute said.
However, the national rate of stunted growth among children still
remained high at 24.3 percent in 2016 and unequal between regions, with big
gaps between mountainous, disadvantaged and rural areas, and cities and delta
regions.
Therefore, preventing
micronutrient deficiency is one of the six important goals of the National
Strategy on Nutrition for 2011-2020.
NIN Deputy Director Truong
Tuyet Mai said providing micronutrient supplements for high-risk groups such as
children and new mothers is a fast and timely measure to reduce the situation
of micronutrient deficiency.
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.
Adding micronutrient
supplements to essential foods is a simple, effective way of improving daily
meals, health, and quality of life, she said.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
