Around 20% of children under six month old in the country are breastfed. The news was released at the launching ceremony of a campaign in response to the World Breastfeeding Week 2014 with the theme " Breast milk - Natural precious gift" held by the Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children Fund and the World Health Organization on August 1. Addressing at the ceremony, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Viet Tien pointed out that breast milk also contains antibodies and lymphocytes from the mother that help the baby resist infections; accordingly, breast-fed children will have ability to fight illness-causing germs. Children consume nutrients in breast milk easily as the proportion of nutrient in breast milk is naturally low enough for consumption. According to the study conducted by the National Nutrition Center, the percentage of infants below six month old totally breastfed in six first months is nearly 20% while the proportion of children suffering from stunted growth because of malnutrition is up to 30%. In addition, there is an upward trend of children having formula and powdered milk instead of breast milk before six month old. Dairy manufacturers and businesses spent more than $35 million on advertising milk products for children under five years old in 2013. Advertising on dairy products has become one in five most popular ads in the country. (Saigon-gpdaily.com.vn Aug 3)
