HKI Vietnam improves people’s food security and nutrition in Lai Chau, Hoa Binh

(VNF) - Over 5,000 mothers, children, and household members in Lai Chau and Hoa Binh will have the chance to improve their household food security and nutrition through the scaling up of the Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) model of Helen Keller International (HKI) Vietnam.

This project is funded by the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam through the Irish Aid programme and will be implemented for 4 years (2017-2021).

At the workshop launching the EHFP project on November 17^th.

Despite the fact that Vietnam has achieved a significant reduction in malnutrition among children under five, malnutrition remains a prominent public health concern for the country.

According to the most recent national nutrition survey in 2014, stunting, underweight, and wasting affect 24.9 per cent, 14.5 per cent, and 6.8 per cent of children under five years old, respectively. The rates are much higher among ethnic communities in the Northern Mountain regions, with the province of Lai Chau recording some of the highest prevalence of childhood stunting (36 per cent), underweight (23 per cent), and wasting (10 per cent). The Northern Midland and Mountains region also recorded the highest prevalence of anemia (43.0 per cent, compared to a national average of 29.2 per cent) and is one of two regions with the highest prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (19.2 per cent, compared to a national average of 14.2 per cent) among children under five. Food insecurity and inadequate nutrition and hygiene practices are leading causes of this problem.

HKI’s EHFP approach was initiated in Bangladesh in 1988 and has been successfully implemented in many countries in Asia and some in Africa as well. In Vietnam, this model was first implemented in Tan Lang commune, then scaled up in Muong Lang commune, Phu Yen district, Son La province (2013 - 2017). EHFP contributed to the reduction of malnutrition, an increase in perse food production and consumption, higher income among participating households, and importantly, socioeconomic development in these underserved areas.

To continue the success of the “Improved household food security and nutrition through enhanced homestead food production in Son La province” program, the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam awarded HKI a grant to scale up the EHFP model in Lai Chau and Hoa Binh provinces. The project will be implemented in six communes in Lac Son district, Hoa Binh province, and Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province.

EHFP project interventions focus on improving nutrition during the first 1000 days of children’s lives. Primary beneficiaries will be 1,200 poor households with pregnant women and/or children under 24 months of age in ethnic minority communities.

The project activities include training on nutrition and agriculture, with a focus on Essential Nutrition and Hygiene Practices. It will also provide support to household through establishing village model farms and provide initial agriculture inputs to households including seeds and saplings and small animals for breeding and/or egg production. Communication activities to promote proper nutrition practices will be done in the community as well. The project will work with existing national programs to improve the environment and public health.

The ceremony launching the EHFP program, on November 17^th, welcomed over 50 participants, including provincial and commune partners of the two project provinces; strategic partners of HKI Vietnam; representatives from the Embassy of Ireland and the HKI Asia-Pacific region. In this workshop, Son La participants shared their experiences of EHFP project implementation./.

VNF