On the morning of August 14th, in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, together with the Ministry of Health , the Ministry of Education and Training, and in collaboration with TH Group, organized the seminar "International Science Conference on School Nutrition 2025 - For a Healthy Vietnam, for the Stature of Vietnam".
Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, requested the completion of the policy framework on nutrition.
Improving nutrition policies to enhance the stature of Vietnamese people.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, and Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, praised the initiative to organize the workshop. He affirmed that this is a practical activity to implement the Party and State's policies and the orientation of General Secretary To Lam on building a healthy Vietnam, where all citizens live long, healthy, and happy lives; and where the workforce has sufficient health, physical fitness, mental strength, intellect, and morality.
The Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department emphasized that the recommendations at the workshop are an important basis for agencies to develop policies. He requested a focus on researching, developing, and perfecting a comprehensive policy framework on nutrition, contributing to achieving the goals of healthcare, human resource development, and improving the quality of life for the people, especially the younger generation.
The Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department suggested that after the workshop, agencies and localities should focus on four tasks: innovating thinking and unifying action; perfecting the institutional framework for health protection and care; promoting propaganda and raising awareness of healthy habits; and mobilizing all resources, especially the private sector, to improve the physical and intellectual capacity and stature of Vietnamese people.
Delegates attending the workshop
Vietnamese youth are still short and thin.
According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Le Tan Dung, Vietnam still faces a double burden of nutrition: many rural and mountainous areas have high rates of malnutrition and stunting; while in urban areas, unbalanced diets, with excess energy but a lack of micronutrients and insufficient physical activity, fail to ensure the health of students. The average height of Vietnamese students remains lower than the average of other countries in the region.
From a healthcare perspective, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized that Vietnam needs to make a breakthrough in school nutrition, considering schools – especially the crucial 2-12 age range – as a strategic "front" for comprehensive interventions in nutrition and physical activity, creating lifelong change.
Deputy Minister Thuc affirmed that Vietnam has every right to be proud of being internationally recognized as a bright spot in improving nutrition: in the period 2010–2020, the height of 18-year-old youths increased significantly, with males increasing by 3.7 cm and females by 2.6 cm.
The rate of stunting in children under 5 years old has decreased dramatically from over 30% to below 19.6% (in 2020), faster than the Southeast Asian average.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc emphasized the role of school nutrition.
However, nutritional issues remain challenging. The rate of stunting among children in ethnic minority areas is over 30%, nearly double the average; overweight and obesity in cities have almost doubled in a decade, exceeding 20%. While the height of Vietnamese youth has improved, it is still lower than that of Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
He emphasized that school age is the "final golden period" for comprehensive interventions in nutrition and physical activity, creating lifelong changes. Therefore, focusing on improving school nutrition is a strategic direction for enhancing the stature, physical fitness, and intelligence of Vietnamese people.
Elevating Vietnam's stature through school nutrition.
The Deputy Minister of Health proposed improving the institutional framework, considering investment in nutrition as an investment in development, and building a strong legal and policy framework to enhance the stature and physical fitness of the younger generation.
School meals need a breakthrough in nutrition to improve the stature of Vietnamese people.
School nutrition is a major issue requiring a comprehensive solution and decisive action from the entire system. Solutions related to education, social mobilization, and the application of science and technology also need to be ensured through inclusive policies.
The goal is to build a "Comprehensive School Nutrition Ecosystem" – from "eating enough" to "eating right, eating enough, and engaging in scientific exercise," creating a revolution in awareness, shifting school meals from "eating enough" to "eating right – eating enough – eating diverse – eating safely."
At the workshop, Professor Tran Thanh Duong, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, proposed the issuance of standards for school meals and the legalization of regulations on nutrition based on the model of "School meals ensuring balanced nutrition combined with enhanced physical activity" for students.
Dr. Philipp Rosler, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, shares his experience on school nutrition.
Sharing experiences from the German Nutrition Standards (DGE) and the EU's school milk, vegetable, and fruit program, Dr. Philipp Rösler, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Germany, recommended that Vietnam replicate the successful pilot model and develop its own national nutrition standards.
At the forum, experts called for making school nutrition a priority in the programs and plans of ministries, departments, and localities.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Thoa, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Social Affairs, proposed including school nutrition in the Central Committee's resolution, considering it a strategic task to improve Vietnam's stature; and simultaneously requested Party committees and authorities at all levels to strengthen guidance, propaganda, and replicate effective school meal models.
Dr. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), said that the draft Law on Disease Prevention will have a separate chapter on school nutrition, stipulating that students must be guaranteed standardized meals according to their age, moving from a "recommended" to a "mandatory" level.
The Department of Disease Prevention is committed to taking the lead, especially in promoting institutional improvement and creating a solid legal framework; once the law is passed, it will be an effective tool to standardize and standardize school nutrition nationwide.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/nang-tam-voc-nguoi-viet-nho-dinh-duong-hoc-duong-196250814144346493.htm
Comment (0)