Vietnam makes progress in combating micronutrient deficiency
Vietnam has made great progress in addressing micronutrient deficiency over the past years, but there is still a long road ahead for the country to catch up with regional countries, according to the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the Ministry of Health.
Vietnam has made great progress in addressing micronutrient deficiencyover the past years, but there is still a long road ahead for thecountry to catch up with regional countries, according to the NationalInstitute of Nutrition (NIN) under the Ministry of Health.
Speaking to the media on May 25 at the launch of Micronutrient Day(June 1-2), NIN Deputy Director Dr. Le Bach Mai said the World HealthOrganisation lists Vietnam among 19 countries with high rate ofpreclinical vitamin A deficiency.
The doctorsaid one tenth of Vietnamese children under five years old suffer fromthe lack of Vitamin A, while the rates of underweight and stuntedchildren are 14.5 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively.
According to Mai, combating micronutrient deficiency is a long-termmission and is one of the goals of the National Nutritional Strategy for2011-2020.
The NIN announced that on theMicronutrient Day, it will provide 6.7 million capsules of vitamin A forchildren aged from 6 to 60 months and new mothers in all 63 provincesand cities.
More than one million dewormingdoses for children aged from 24-60 months are also given away at 22disadvantaged provinces where there are high rates of stunted children.
The institute also advised families to diversifytheir meals with food which are rich in vitamins and minerals to supplysufficient micronutrients to children.-VNA
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