UNICEF applauds Viet Nam’s new guidelines to reduce child malnutrition
23 August 2016
- Ha Noi, 23 August 2016 – The government of Viet Nam has issued the National Guidelines for the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children under six years of age, making it the third country in the region to adopt such guidelines which are in line with the 2013 recommendations from the World Health Organization. The aim is to reduce child deaths by improving the quality of lifesaving nutrition services for children. Nationally, 45 percent of deaths of children under five years are related to under-nutrition.
Malnutrition remains a significant public health concern in Viet Nam with a staggering 1.8 million children who are stunted (short for their age) and around 200,000 children under 5 years who are severe acute malnourished (thin for their height). Those who are severely wasted are nine time more likely to die than their healthy peers.
The new guidelines will put in place protocols for the provision of quality treatment and management of children with SAM within the broader range of interventions and approaches addressing all forms of malnutrition. This includes protection, promotion and support for breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, behaviour change communication for mothers and child caregivers on Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices, multiple micronutrient supplementation for pregnant women, support health staff to better diagnose and treat SAM. The document comprises guidelines for outpatient and inpatient treatment as well as community based treatment of Moderate Acute Malnutrition.
Viet Nam is a disaster prone country and each occurrence increases the risk of children suffering from malnutrition. In this context it is important to consider other factors in addressing malnutrition such as the environment, water, sanitation and food security that are crucial for the nutrition of children.
UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry of Health in improving child survival and development. The issue of the guidelines is a milestone in providing care and support for children suffering from malnutrition. The guidelines also came out timely as the country is facing challenges in addressing child malnutrition in the context of natural disaster emergencies.
"This is a significant milestone in joint efforts to improve child survival and early childhood care and development, including in the first 1,000 days." said Jesper Moller, Deputy Representative of UNICEF Viet Nam. "Together with the Child Law, the issue of the guidelines on Sever Acute Malnutrition could serve as a basis for the Government to make check-up, counselling and treatment of malnourished children part of the National Health Insurance scheme as well as the needed therapeutic products. UNICEF will continue to support Viet Nam to ensure that children who suffer from malnutrition will get all the support needed to recover and to get all chances to grow up healthy."
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