Vietnam’s Ministry of Health held on July 4 a meeting to review the implementation of a program on nutrition and food security for Vietnamese kids using loan from the Spanish government. The Joint Program on Integrated Nutrition and Food Security Strategies for Children and Vulnerable Groups in Vietnam is funded by the Spanish Millennium Development Goal Achievement Fund via the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization. The $3.55-million program, conducted from Jan 2010 to June 2013, targeted disadvantaged kids in the six provinces of Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Dak Lak, Kon Tum, Ninh Thuan and An Giang. Under the program, 66 groups were set up to assist breastfeeding mothers in An Giang, Dien Bien and Ninh Thuan, while local farmers received technical support to increase productivity and improve food quality. Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the program will continue to be implemented in a sustainable manner to improve health and nutrition for Vietnamese mothers and children while contributing to Vietnam’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. According to the UN, underweight and stunted growth rates among Vietnam children aged under five are 19% and 32%, respectively, and 27% of mothers with under-five children are suffer chronic energy deficiency. (vietnamplus.vn July 4)
