A medical worker administers a vitamin A supplement to a child (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has taken
different solutions to prevent micronutrient deficiency, which is relatively common
in the country, especially in rural and mountainous areas.
Deficiency of iodine, vitamin A, iron and zinc
is the main cause of common micronutrient deficiency diseases in Vietnam,
according to the (NIN).
A survey conducted by the National Hospital of
Endocrinology shows that from 2010 to 2015, 9.8 percent of children aged
between 8-10 were afflicted with goiter while only about 60 percent of families
used qualified iodised salt. These were the lowest rates in the last 10 years.
The NIN said iodine is a very important micronutrient,
and a shortage of will lead to major consequences which in turn affect
public health and socio-economic development.
In another survey conducted in 2014 and 2015 by
the NIN, the rate of preclinical vitamin A deficiency among under-5 children
was 13 percent and the rate of vitamin A in breast milk was only 34.8 percent.
These rates were unchanged from another NIN census in 2010
The World Health Organisation (WHO) listed
Vietnam among 19 countries with serious preclinical vitamin A deficiency, more
than 10 percent among under-5 children.
Meanwhile, the rate of blood deficiency was 32.8
percent among pregnant women, 25.5 percent among the non-pregnant, and 27.8
percent among under-5 children. These rates were higher in mountainous and
rural areas and lower in cities, according to an NIN survey in 2014 and 2015.
Zinc deficiency was also rampant, with 80.3
percent pregnant women, 63.6 percent non-pregnant, and 69.4 percent under-5
children afflicted. According to the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative
Group, zinc deficiency is a public health concern when the rate is more than 20
percent.
The NIN attributed the high micronutrient
deficiency to a poor diet. Facing this fact, many solutions have been devised.
The Vietnamese Government approved a national
strategy on nutrition, a national action plan on nutrition, a decree
stipulating food fortification and a blueprint for improving the physical
strength and height of Vietnamese people.
The country aims to reduce the rates of stunted
children to below 21.5 percent and of children with preclinical vitamin A
deficiency to below 8 percent by 2020. Meanwhile, the rates of pregnant women
and children with blood deficiency are hoped to be cut down to below 23 percent
and 15 percent, respectively.
The strategy for
prevention has combined different solutions such as taking micronutrient supplements,
food fortification and diet diversification. While taking supplements quickly
deals with micronutrient deficiency, food fortification and diet
diversification is a long-term and sustainable solution.
As a result, nearly 1 million under-5 children
have reportedly seen their vitamin A deficiency improve each year thanks to the
biannual provision of vitamin A supplements 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 for children and
post-partum mothers has become an annual activity in more than 11,000 communes
across the country.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
