Children between 6 and 60 months old and their mothers will be provided with Vitamin A and iron capsules to prevent nutrition deficiency during the Micro-Nutrient Day Campaign on June 1-2.

" Vietnam should encourage the prevention of malnutrition effectively and widely through comprehensive measures such as the strengthening of family meals and supplements like iodine, vitamin A and iron," said Deputy Minister of Health Trinh Quan Huan at the campaign launch ceremony in Ha Noi on May 28.

The campaign aims to reduce under-weight and malnutrition in children under five years of age to below 10 per cent and reduce stunted growth in children to less than 23 per cent by 2015, said Huan.

Health ministry statistics show that malnutrition among children under 5 remains high in Vietnam , with stunted growth at 30 per cent and nearly 30 percent of women at fertile age suffering iron deficiency anemia.

The annual campaign to raise public awareness of essential nutrition and promote food hygiene and safety distributes Vitamin A and iron supplements for mothers and children and offers education on food processing methods for pregnant women and infants, especially in remote and mountainous areas, island areas, and areas in economic difficulties./.