Alongside the ever-increasing risk of child obesity, the child malnutrition is now also a big challenge for the society.
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A suitable nutrition strategy is required for reducing the rate of child malnutrition
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3 of 10 children end up malnourished
According to the province’s reproductive health centre, the rate of malnourished children in Binh Dinh is 29.7 percent, averagely 29.3 percent higher than the country’s rate. Among 10 under-5 children, 3 are under-height.
The underweight and under-height malnutrition is very popular in the world, according to the centre’s director Nguyen Thi Bich. However, we are still facing the lack of sources improving the diet for pregnant women and infants in their first two years.
In a meeting on child malnutrition prevention held in Quy Nhon city, the participants said Vietnam still sees the high rate of malnutrition. Malnourished children will easily suffer some diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, or other infectious diseases when they grow up.
The underweight and under-height malnutrition is also related to the child mortality rate, said Bich, as it increases the rate by 2.5-8.4 times.
Reducing the rate of child malnutrition also means improving Vietnamese people’s physical strength, intelligence, and race.
Suitable orientation required
There are many reasons causing the child malnutrition. The fact that mothers and caregivers lack information about reasonable nutrition is the main cause.
Other reasons include food having low amount of protid and lipid, risks of food safety in far and remote districts of Van Canh, Vinh Thanh, Hoai An, and An Lao, and the infrastructure dilapidation threatening the healthcare, clean water, and sanitation works.
These are big challenges Binh Dinh must overcome to improve the child nutrition, reducing the rate of underweight and under-height malnutrition by 27.95 percent in 2011 and under 26 percent by 2015.
The province’s Department of Health must play a core role in mobilizing all bodies and agencies to join the program and promoting communication activities in every locality.
Doctor emphasized that improving nutrition for children who suffer severe malnutrition is very important in maintaining their lives, physical strength, and intelligence development.
The nutrition improvement program will be prioritized in disadvantaged areas and for under-five children, particularly those having severe malnutrition, she added.
The health sector will carry out a study from June to September and build an action plan later.
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