Preventing malnutrition for children in ethnic minority areas

In recent times, the province has issued many programs and plans, focusing on solving malnutrition in children, ensuring a balanced and reasonable diet, reducing the rate of stunted and underweight children in the golden period of physical development; creating conditions for children to develop best both physically and mentally, especially in ethnic minority areas.

The Provincial Women's Union organized a training course on knowledge on preventing and combating malnutrition for children under 5 years old in Ba Che district (Photo taken in April 2025).

As of June 2025, the rate of children under 5 years old suffering from malnutrition by weight for age in the province was 4.74%. Although lower than the national average, it is still high compared to the province's economic development level and there are differences between regions.

Accordingly, the province has implemented child malnutrition prevention through the integration of programs, projects and plans: "Improving the quality of population in ethnic minority and mountainous areas"; "Population and development of Quang Ninh province in the period of 2023-2025, orientation to 2030"; "Propaganda and mobilization to improve nutrition and physical strength for children in mountainous, remote and ethnic minority areas in Quang Ninh province in the period of 2021-2025"; "Taking care of people's health, improving the physical condition and stature of ethnic minorities, preventing child malnutrition"...

Sectors and localities in the province have well organized health care and nutrition programs for children. The provincial health sector has promoted counseling and guidance on nutrition care in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, integrated into prenatal care at commune health stations and in the community. Health facilities have well implemented the essential care process for mothers and newborns during and immediately after birth. In cases of normal birth, families are advised to breastfeed early within the first hour after birth at health stations that provide delivery services.

Ba Che Medical Center organizes height measurement for children under 2 years old in Ba Che commune.

Health stations in ethnic minority communes organize screening and nutritional assessment for pregnant mothers 3 times/pregnancy/person and 3 months/time/child for children under 2 years old; provide nutritional counseling for children under 2 years old... Implement intervention measures for children from 0 to 72 months old diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition by supporting treatment; providing regular nutritional support and guidance... Health stations also provide health care for mothers and newborns in the first 42 days after birth at home, to monitor the health of both mothers and newborns in the first 6 weeks at home.

In July 2025, Quang Ninh CDC organized the first vitamin A supplementation campaign in 2025. The campaign aims to ensure that at least 98% of children aged 6 to under 36 months receive vitamin A, while promoting communication to raise public awareness of the importance of micronutrients for the comprehensive development of young children.

Accordingly, children from 6 to under 12 months old are given one vitamin A tablet with a dose of 100,000 IU; children from 12 to under 36 months old are given one vitamin A tablet with a dose of 200,000 IU. In addition, children from 6 to under 60 months old with diseases such as prolonged diarrhea, acute respiratory infections or acute malnutrition are also given vitamin A supplements according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health.

Phong Du Health Station (Tien Yen commune) examines children's health before giving them vitamin A supplements.

Ms. Lai Thi Huong (Tien Yen commune) shared: “This is the second time I have brought my child to the Commune Health Station to supplement vitamin A. Thanks to the active propaganda of the Station's medical staff, I am aware of the importance of vitamin A for the eyes, intestines, and immune system; so when notified, I always take my child to take supplements to improve his health.”

The initial results from policy integration, improving grassroots health capacity, promoting communication and implementing micronutrient supplementation campaigns have contributed to improving the nutritional status of children in ethnic minority areas. From these results, Quang Ninh has more basis to continue to improve policies, expand effective models and aim to improve children's stature and physical strength effectively and sustainably.

Van Anh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/phong-chong-suy-dinh-duong-cho-tre-em-vung-dtts-3377012.html