Hanoi: Nearly 340,000 children received vitamin A in the second supplementation campaign

On December 1-2, nearly 340,000 children aged 6 months to under 36 months in Hanoi received vitamin A in the second phase of the vitamin A supplementation campaign in 2025 (drinking from December 3 to December 4).

In preparation for the campaign, the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward issued a plan, which set out two goals: to promote communication and education on preventing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in children for mothers in the ward; over 99.8% of children from 6 months to under 36 months of age receive high doses of vitamin A.

According to Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward Trinh Ngoc Tram, the pre-campaign preparations were carried out in detail, specifically, and clearly by the ward. Communication work was carried out continuously before and during the days of the Campaign in many diverse forms. The ward organized training for medical staff at medical points on screening subjects, techniques for giving children vitamin A, handling choking incidents, etc.

To implement the campaign, Cua Nam ward organized 5 drinking points to ensure hygiene, cleanliness, ventilation, with a map of vitamin A drinking points, in one direction, with enough tables and chairs and waiting chairs; distributing the number of children reasonably, inviting children to drink by the hour to avoid overcrowding causing congestion and overload. Before that, the ward organized an investigation, made a list of children from 6 months old to under 36 months old, estimated the amount of vitamin A in the Campaign and sent invitations to households with children to drink vitamin A.

Giving children Vitamin A at the Cua Nam Ward Health Station (Hanoi). (Photo: Nguyen Cuc/VNA)

Head of Cua Nam Ward Health Station Pham Hong Diep said that as the standing agency advising the Ward People's Committee to develop and implement a plan to organize the second Vitamin A Supplement Campaign for Children in Cua Nam Ward in 2025, the Station organizes communication activities, training to improve professional capacity for health station staff and staff participating in the campaign monitoring team; receiving, supplying and preserving vitamin A; preparing necessary supplies.

At Dong Ngac Ward Health Station, it was not yet time to start but there were quite a few parents and grandparents bringing their children to take vitamin A according to the invitations received from the residential group. The reception and guidance work was carried out carefully and discreetly by the staff, ensuring that there was no congestion or chaos.

With the goal of over 99.8% of children from 6 to under 36 months old receiving high doses of vitamin A during the second campaign in 2025, the People's Committee of Dong Ngac Ward directed the drinking points to fully prepare tools and supplies: vitamin A capsules, trays, scissors, drinking water, cups, spoons... Medical staff and specialized staff participating in the campaign were trained in screening subjects, techniques for giving children to drink, handling choking incidents, and dosage according to the Institute of Nutrition's protocol...

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Duong (Ecohome 1 apartment, Dong Ngac ward, Hanoi) brought his 6-month-old daughter to the ward health station to take vitamin A. He shared that, near the campaign date, he received many invitations to buy vitamin A for his child to take at home. However, he and his wife still decided to take their child to the ward health station to ensure the child's safety and prevent any incidents after taking it.

According to information from the Hanoi Department of Health, the second Vitamin A supplementation campaign in 2025 will be held at 3,037 drinking points across the city. It is expected that the number of children in the age group receiving vitamin A this time will be about 339,392, of which 57,750 will be children from 6 months to under 12 months old, and 281,642 will be children from 12 months to under 36 months old.

The health sector provides enough vitamin A and coordinates with the authorities of wards and communes to organize the Campaign, aiming for over 99.8% of children of the right age to receive high doses of vitamin A during this period.

The Department of Health established 4 Monitoring Teams for the second phase of the Vitamin A supplementation campaign in the city in 2025, with the task of inspecting, supervising professional processes and evaluating the results of the implementation of the Campaign; the monitoring period is from December 1 until the end of the campaign.

Before, during and after the campaign, localities will promote communication to raise public awareness about the benefits of vitamin A, a reasonable diet, preventing malnutrition in children, preventing micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, etc.

The first phase of the 2025 Vitamin A Supplementation Campaign was held on June 1-2, combined with deworming for children at more than 1,600 points of administration, with nearly 387,000 children of the age receiving high doses of Vitamin A supplements. During the campaign, children were weighed and measured, and children under 5 years old were assessed for the rate of malnutrition in the form of underweight, stunting, acute malnutrition, and overweight and obesity.

According to health sector statistics, by the end of October 2025, the rate of underweight malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Hanoi was 6.4%, stunting 9.6%, acute malnutrition 0.2% and overweight and obesity 1%./.

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