Vietnam works to ease micronutrient deficiency in children

(VNF) - "Childhood malnutrition is now concerning experts. Data show that as many as 13 percent of under five children in Vietnam now don’t get enough Vitamin A, while the rate of zinc deficiency is up to 70 percent," reported the Vietnam News.

Photo for illustration (source: The Custom News)

Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia and iodine deficiency disorders are the most common forms of Micronutrient malnutrition, according to the Food Agriculture Foundation (FAO).

"Vietnam is now facing a serious deficiency of Vitamin A and folic acid. Nutrition imbalance between regions is also worrying us" said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister of Health.

As many as one million Vietnamese children receive vitamin A during the annual campaign in all cities and provinces nationwide. However, the vitamin supplement is conducted during campaigns, not regularly.

In the country, the rate of vitamin A and other micronutrients deficiency still remains high, which badly affected children’s health and development.

Increasing micronutrients in daily meal is the simplest and most sustainable way to improve the height and physical health of Vietnamese people.

However, in Vietnam, not many parents are really aware of the exact amount of nutrients their kids should be supplied with to grow well.

To deal with the problem, the Vietnamese government has 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 strategy for micronutrient deficiency prevention has combined different solutions such as taking micronutrient supplements, food fortification and diet persification. While taking supplements quickly deals with micronutrient deficiency, food fortification and diet persification is a long-term and sustainable solution.

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.

Particularly, Vietnam has taken different solutions to prevent micronutrient deficiency, which is relatively common in the country, especially in rural and mountainous areas./.

( VNF )