Synchronous solutions to control malnutrition
After arranging administrative units, the implementation of the National Strategy on Nutrition in Vinh Long quickly stabilized, ensuring monitoring and management of children throughout the area.
The strategy is implemented in 124 communes and wards with a network of 340 full-time officials and about 3,300 grassroots collaborators, monitoring and managing more than 181,000 children under 5 years old.
The control of malnutrition is integrated by Party committees and local authorities into socio-economic development targets, creating coordination between the health sector and grassroots levels.
Notably, the Provincial People's Committee included the target of reducing the rate of child malnutrition as a criterion for evaluating communes meeting new rural standards. As a result, many nutrition targets have been achieved and exceeded the set targets.
Specifically, the rate of underweight malnutrition in children under 5 years old decreased to 6.5%, lower than the target of less than 10%; stunting is 11%, while the target is less than 17%.
Along with that, the rate of malnourished and skinny children is controlled below 5%, while overweight and obesity are controlled at 9.2%, below the target of 10%.
From the reality of caring for children at home, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, residing in Long Ho commune, said that being regularly guided by medical staff helps her be more proactive in nutritional care.
My child is almost 10 months old. When it comes to vaccination, taking vitamin A, medical staff weigh and measure, guide how to keep breast milk when going to work, cook porridge with enough nutrients. Thanks to that, I know how to change dishes and take care of my child scientifically," Ms. Tuyen shared.
Applying technology, early nutritional care
In addition to controlling malnutrition, Vinh Long Health sector promotes digital transformation, operating software to build balanced nutritional menus suitable for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children from 7 - 60 months old.
In the field of education, daily menu design software is also applied to boarding students, contributing to controlling the quality of meals and ensuring nutritional needs in schools.
According to Master, Specialist Doctor I Tran Thi Tuyet Mai - Head of Nutrition Department, Vinh Long General Hospital, prolonged malnutrition directly affects children's health, growth and development.
When they grow up, these effects can affect their ability to study, physically and intellectually work, and increase the risk of chronic diseases.
Faced with the requirement to improve nutritional quality, Vinh Long Department of Health determined that caring for mothers and children in the first 1,000 days of life is one of the core intervention solutions.
According to Ms. Lam Nhu Quynh - Deputy Director of Vinh Long Provincial Department of Health, in the period 2026 - 2030, the health sector focuses on synchronously implementing solutions to improve nutritional quality for people.
According to Ms. Quynh, along with the determination to control malnutrition and obesity, the province proposed that the Ministry of Health support stable high-dose vitamin A, promote training and in-depth technical training, and improve the capacity of grassroots health workers.
The protection of breast milk sources, ensuring nutrition for mothers and children in the first 1,000 days of life needs to be implemented synchronously, regularly and with the participation of the whole society.
“Along with the attention of the Party Committee and government, the companionship of the whole society will help the province's nutrition work achieve many results, contributing to improving the stature, physical strength and health of the people,” Ms. Quynh shared.
