Micro-nutrient Day: Children, post-natal mothers to get free vitamin A

Hanoi (VNA) – Children from 6 months to 36 months old and new mothers will be given free vitamin A supplements in a national drive on the occasion of the Micro-nutrient Day (June 1 and 2).

Vice Director of the Nutrition Institute under the Health Ministry Le Bach Mai said on May 26 that the Institute has distributed more than 6.71 million doses of vitamin A supplements for the drive, adding that in 22 poor provinces, the vitamin will also be given to children from 37 months to 60 months old.

The Micro-nutrient Day this year has the theme of “Use micro-nutrient fortified food every day”, and communication campaigns will be held across the country to raise the public’s awareness of the importance of micro-nutrients and how to increase the consumption of them in daily meals.

At present, micro-nutrients have been added to several food products in Vietnam, such as iodine has been included in salt, iron in wheat flour and vitamin A to vegetable oil.

Vice Director Mai stressed that adding micronutrients to essential food is a simple yet effective way to reduce micronutrient deficiency. She recommended families to consume a variety of food and select micronutrient fortified products.

Over the past years, vitamin A supplementation has been included in the Micronutrient Day activities across the country. Children aged 6-36 months and those at risk of micronutrient deficiency have been given free vitamin A capsules while children aged 6-60 months have received anthelmintic or anti-parasitic medicine in 22 disadvantaged localities.

Postpartum women nationwide has also been provided a dose of vitamin A within a month after giving birth.-VNA