Parents bring children to register for vitamin A supplementation in Điện Biên Ward, Ba Đình District in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

Bồ Xuân Hiệp

HCM CITY — International cooperation is crucial in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition in lower-income nations, including Việt Nam, experts said.

Darryl James Dong, principal country officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said more than two billion people are malnourished and face preventable health issues.

“Our current food systems exasperate the issue, contributing 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, 80 per cent of deforestation and biodiversity loss, and 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals,” he said.

Natia Mgeladze, the lead for Global Food Fortification Advisory at IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, told Việt Nam News that Việt Nam needs funding, human resources, and capacity building to address micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition.

International organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), and WFP (United Nations World Food Programme), are working on strategies such as food fortification, diversification, and supplementation to address the issues.

Food fortification has been identified as a crucial tool in tackling public health challenges due to its affordability, according to a report by WHO, which stated “food fortification costs only $0.06 per person per year.”

Mgeladze said the IFC has launched a project called ‘Food Fortification Advisory’ to back up private sector clients in adopting and implementing the best fortification practices.

The move aims to promote the best food fortification practices while leveraging local and international nutrition initiatives to address malnutrition issues in Việt Nam and other lower-income countries.

She also pointed out that Vietnamese food producers and distributors should be provided with clear guiding regulations on compliance requirements of food fortification and the use of fortified ingredients.

Natia Mgeladze, the lead for IFC Global Food Fortification Advisory, talks to Việt Nam News about the impact of food fortification in addressing micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition in Việt Nam at a forum last week in HCM City. VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp

‘Twin challenges’

Ernest Bethe, the Agribusiness Advisory Manager for Asia at IFC, said Việt Nam is facing the ‘twin challenges’ of micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition, posing significant negative effects on health, human capital, and child development.

These problems also result in billions of dollars in lost productivity and healthcare expenses globally each year, he added.

Aditya Jagati, a senior programme officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said over three billion people around the world suffer from at least one micronutrient deficiency.

Deficiencies in folic acid, iodine, iron, vitamin A, and zinc are responsible for an estimated 2 to 5 per cent loss in GDP, he said.

“Conversely, every $1 invested in food fortification generates $27 in economic returns from disease prevention, improved earnings, and enhanced productivity,” he said.

He proposed investment in research and development to expand the range and levels of micronutrients in different types of staples to address these challenges.

He also recommended building private sector partnerships to strengthen fortification production quality and enable sustainable markets, he added.

The collaboration would also lend support to the public sector to strengthen regulations and create a level playing field for all actors, he noted.

WHO and UNICEF have recommended Việt Nam implement a Government decree adopted in 2016 mandating food fortification by the Vietnamese food industry.

Nearly 20 per cent of children under age of five in Việt Nam are affected by micronutrient deficiencies, according to a report by UNICEF.

Việt Nam is among 34 countries facing the highest burden of chronic malnutrition, impacting 1.8 million children under the age of five and posing a risk to their physical and cognitive development. — VNS