Ha Giang: Deploy the project “HAPPY VIETNAM”
The prevelance of child's stunting is considered as one of the significant obstacles to human development, especially in developing countries like Vietnam.
In accordance with the statistics of the National Institute of Nutrition, the country’s stunting rate among children under 5 years old was at 19.74 per cent in 2020, which means that one in 5 children of this age suffer from stunting and malnutrition; this number remains quite high, especially in rural and mountainous areas with difficult economic conditions and low educational attainment.
With the desire to join hands with the community to reduce stunting and malnutrition prevalence and make contribution to the development of physical strength and great stature of Vietnamese people, the project “Happy Vietnam” has been deployed and implemented by Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation Inc (ASSIST) in Vietnam and sponsored by the German bank DEG and co-sponsored by multinational pharmaceutical company, Merck – one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.
The overall objective of the project is to reduce the rate of stunting and malnutrition among disadvantaged communities in Vietnam through the implementation of training, coaching and consulting programs to raise awareness, capacity for teachers, health workers of schools and parents to be well prepared for conditions, early recognition and proper treatment provided to children with signs of malnutrition and stunting. The project is implemented in 07 provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Nong, Lao Cai and Ha Giang.
From 10th to 11th February 2023, Ha Giang provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations has cooperated with a delegation of experts and doctors of Ha Giang Traditional Medicine Hospital and an expert team of ASSIST in Vietnam to successfully implement a training program for teachers and medical staff of 4 schools including Kindergarten in Ta Lung Commune, Kindergarten in Sung Tra Commune, Semi-Boarding Ta Lung Primary School for Ethnic Minorities and Semi-Boarding Sung Tra Primary School for Ethnic Minorities in Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province on normal growth and development of children; practice to ensure physical health for students.
At the same time, the screening and checking of health have been carried out for 400 students of the 4 schools being at risk of malnutrition and stunting; the coaching and seminars related to normal growth and development of the children, how to ensure nutrition, pay attention in the right way, at the right time, provide specific guidances on choose menu and prepare healthy meals for children… all aiming to eradicate stunting and malnutrition for children. In addition, 400 gifts have been given to children and their parents who came for screening and checking health.
The successful outcomes of the "Happy Vietnam” project in Ha Giang province have contributed to joining hands with the community to eradicate stunting and malnutrition, develop physical strength, improve the stature of Vietnamese people, and at the same time contribute to the implementation of “The National Nutrition Strategy for 2011-2020, with a Vision toward 2030” approved by the Prime Minister at the Decision No. 226/QD-TTg dated February 22, 2012. It is hoped that the project will be replicated and applied for the next phase.
