Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has takendifferent solutions to prevent micronutrient deficiency, which is relatively commonin the country, especially in rural and mountainous areas.

Deficiency of iodine, vitamin A, iron and zincis the main cause of common micronutrient deficiency diseases in Vietnam,according to the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).

A survey conducted by the National Hospital ofEndocrinology shows that from 2010 to 2015, 9.8 percent of children agedbetween 8-10 were afflicted with goiter while only about 60 percent of familiesused qualified iodised salt. These were the lowest rates in the last 10 years.

The NIN said iodine is a very important micronutrient,and a shortage of iodine will lead to major consequences which in turn affectpublic health and socio-economic development.

In another survey conducted in 2014 and 2015 bythe NIN, the rate of preclinical vitamin A deficiency among under-5 childrenwas 13 percent and the rate of vitamin A in breast milk was only 34.8 percent.These rates were unchanged from another NIN census in 2010

The World Health Organisation (WHO) listedVietnam among 19 countries with serious preclinical vitamin A deficiency, morethan 10 percent among under-5 children.

Meanwhile, the rate of blood deficiency was 32.8percent among pregnant women, 25.5 percent among the non-pregnant, and 27.8percent among under-5 children. These rates were higher in mountainous andrural areas and lower in cities, according to an NIN survey in 2014 and 2015.

Zinc deficiency was also rampant, with 80.3percent pregnant women, 63.6 percent non-pregnant, and 69.4 percent under-5children afflicted. According to the International Zinc Nutrition ConsultativeGroup, zinc deficiency is a public health concern when the rate is more than 20percent.

The NIN attributed the high micronutrientdeficiency to a poor diet. Facing this fact, many solutions have been devised.

The Vietnamese Government approved a nationalstrategy on nutrition, a national action plan on nutrition, a decreestipulating food fortification and a blueprint for improving the physicalstrength and height of Vietnamese people.

The country aims to reduce the rates of stuntedchildren to below 21.5 percent and of children with preclinical vitamin Adeficiency to below 8 percent by 2020. Meanwhile, the rates of pregnant womenand children with blood deficiency are hoped to be cut down to below 23 percentand 15 percent, respectively.

The strategy for micronutrient deficiencyprevention has combined different solutions such as taking micronutrient supplements,food fortification and diet diversification. While taking supplements quicklydeals with micronutrient deficiency, food fortification and dietdiversification is a long-term and sustainable solution.

As a result, nearly 1 million under-5 childrenhave reportedly seen their vitamin A deficiency improve each year thanks to thebiannual provision of vitamin A supplements for children between 6 and 36months old nationwide and for those between 37 and 60 months old in 22disadvantaged provinces. 

The provision of vitamin A for children andpost-partum mothers has become an annual activity in more than 11,000 communesacross the country.-VNA