A project funded by the Spanish Government on integrating nutrition and food security for children and vulnerable groups in Vietnam was reviewed at a workshop in Hanoi on June 29. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A project funded by the Spanish Government on integrating nutrition and food security for children and vulnerable groups in Vietnam was reviewed at a workshop in Hanoi on June 29.
Director of the Ministry of Health's Maternal and Child Health Department Nguyen Duc Vinh said the project aims to help Vietnam build and implement an integrated nutrition and food security strategy targeting children and vulnerable groups in the country.
The project has been carried out at the central level and in the mountainous northwest province of Lao Cai and the central province of Ninh Thuan from 2015 to June 2017.
It guides the building and enforcement of relevant policies based on the global recommendations on nutrition for mothers, infants and children, on clean water, hygiene and food security.
It also helps enhance the capability of involved staff at central and local levels in achieving sustainable reduction of the rate of stunted growth and malnutrition among children while ensuring food security for households.
Remarkable outcomes of the project included the issuance of technical guidance for the early detection and treatment of acute child malnutrition, and instructions on food pyramids for pregnant and breast-feeding women and children under five.
In addition, the programme “Restructuring rice sector”, approved in June 2016 has been nationwide applied. Seven models of household-based cultivation, animal raising and aquaculture have been implemented in the two target provinces.
Lao Cai province’s representative said after the project was carried out in Ban Pho commune, Bac Ha district; and Thao Chu Phin commune, Si Ma Cai district, the ratio of malnutrition among children in the two communes decreased from 24.2 percent to 16.6 percent while the rate of mothers having proper knowledge of the minimum diversity of food for children surged from 15.5 percent to 56.9 percent.
Nearly 72 percent of mothers breast-fed their children right after delivery compared to 47.9 percent before the project, and 74 percent of them ensure the minimum diversity of food for their children.-VNA
Director of the Ministry of Health's Maternal and Child Health Department Nguyen Duc Vinh said the project aims to help Vietnam build and implement an integrated nutrition and food security strategy targeting children and vulnerable groups in the country.
The project has been carried out at the central level and in the mountainous northwest province of Lao Cai and the central province of Ninh Thuan from 2015 to June 2017.
It guides the building and enforcement of relevant policies based on the global recommendations on nutrition for mothers, infants and children, on clean water, hygiene and food security.
It also helps enhance the capability of involved staff at central and local levels in achieving sustainable reduction of the rate of stunted growth and malnutrition among children while ensuring food security for households.
Remarkable outcomes of the project included the issuance of technical guidance for the early detection and treatment of acute child malnutrition, and instructions on food pyramids for pregnant and breast-feeding women and children under five.
In addition, the programme “Restructuring rice sector”, approved in June 2016 has been nationwide applied. Seven models of household-based cultivation, animal raising and aquaculture have been implemented in the two target provinces.
Lao Cai province’s representative said after the project was carried out in Ban Pho commune, Bac Ha district; and Thao Chu Phin commune, Si Ma Cai district, the ratio of malnutrition among children in the two communes decreased from 24.2 percent to 16.6 percent while the rate of mothers having proper knowledge of the minimum diversity of food for children surged from 15.5 percent to 56.9 percent.
Nearly 72 percent of mothers breast-fed their children right after delivery compared to 47.9 percent before the project, and 74 percent of them ensure the minimum diversity of food for their children.-VNA
VNA
