HÀ NỘI — Save the Children has launched a communication campaign, entitled Every Last Child, with a focus on nutrition for ethnic minority children in Việt Nam.

The campaign was launched at a workshop on “Strengthening communication on nutrition for ethnic minority children” on December 8 in Hà Nội.

The global campaign aims to catalyse positive changes for millions of the most vulnerable children in the world, including in Việt Nam.

“In Việt Nam, our objective is to join hands with the Government, institutions, communities, parents and children, and raise awareness on the issues minority children face, in order to improve their nutrition and education,” said Save the Children Country Director, Dragana Strinic.

“This campaign is another step forward in our mission towards improving the nutrition of ethnic minority children nationwide. Save the Children believes that every child deserves to reach their full potential,” added Strinic.

Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, Trương Tuyết Mai, said that about 24.3 per cent of the country’s children under five years of age or 1.9 million stunted children are waiting for breakthrough measures on malnutrition prevention in Việt Nam.  

“More investment should be made towards improving children’s nutrition regimes, healthcare and living in Việt Nam, especially during the first 1,000 days of their lives."   

At the event, participants agreed that priority should be given towards enhancing communication and increasing awareness over nutrition for children, especially among the ethnic minority children.

They said that communication was one of the key interventions to improving nutrition for children, especially among the ethnic minority children. Effective and well-targeted communication on proper nutrition enhances awareness and knowledge that will lead to positive changes in nutrition behaviours, habits and practices of people.

They believed that the campaign would contribute to the efforts of Government agencies to promote investment in and ensure the implementation of the National Nutrition Action Plan 2020.

Việt Nam has made significant progress in reducing the rate of malnutrition in children under the age of five over the last seven years. The proportion of underweight children decreased from 17.5 per cent in 2010 to 13.8 per cent in 2016. However, nearly one quarter of Vietnamese children were stunted - 24.3 per cent in 2016. Stunting among ethnic children under five is nearly two times higher than the rate among Kinh children (32.1 per cent compared to 16.2 per cent). — VNS