The first thousand days of life, sowing the seeds for the future

SKĐS – Tuyen Quang is making efforts to deploy the model of “Nutritional care in the first 1,000 days of life” in highland communes – the golden period that determines a child's stature and intelligence.

Nutritional care for mothers and children has always been a focus of the Tuyen Quang Health sector, especially through the model "Nutrition care for the first 1,000 days of life" in highland communes. This is an important model to help support pregnant women, newborns and children under 2 years old - the group of people who play a key role in the comprehensive development of children.

Thanks to the efforts of the health system at all levels, nearly 99% of children under 2 years old have their weight and height monitored regularly; consultation, training and technical supervision activities are maintained regularly. However, the malnutrition rate remains at a worrying level: 30.31% are stunted and 15.94% are underweight, showing that the journey of nutritional care in the first 1,000 days of life still has many challenges.

Nutrition staff support at the Child Feeding group. Photo: Tuyen Quang Provincial CDC

The model is implemented with the goal of improving children's health and stature through regular nutrition monitoring, appropriate diet advice, and provision of micronutrient tablets, Vitamin A, and specialized nutritional products. At the same time, the model contributes to enhancing the professional capacity and consulting skills of grassroots health workers .

According to the Department of Nutrition, the whole province has more than 82,000 children under 5 years old; 98.67% are weighed and measured periodically, meeting and exceeding the plan. The rate of children under 2 years old being monitored at least 3 times/month is 99.56% - a figure that clearly shows the efforts of the grassroots medical team. In addition, the health sector has organized 2 training courses on management and treatment of acute malnutrition using RUTF for 91 trainees; technical supervision teams are also regularly deployed to ensure synchronous professional work.

Commune coordinators advise on care for the first 1,000 days of life in the consultation room. Photo: Tuyen Quang Provincial CDC

Bachelor of Nursing Ly Thi Dam - Deputy Head of the Department of Nutrition said: Although many positive results have been achieved, the rate of malnutrition is still high, showing that the sustainability of the interventions has not met expectations. While the rate of children exclusively breastfeeding in the first 6 months is only 47.45%, many localities have not yet been provided with RUTF products to treat acute malnutrition. In addition, slow funding and changes in nutrition specialists have made monitoring and updating data untimely; monitoring records are still inconsistent.

The coordination between the health sector, education sector and mass organizations is not really synchronized, affecting the quality of communication and implementation of activities. "The grassroots health workers are dedicated but lack resources; they have plans but are slow to produce products for implementation. That is the reality that causes many activities to be interrupted," Ms. Dam shared.

Nutrition staff support communication of the model at the commune level. Photo: Tuyen Quang Provincial CDC

In fact, nutritional care in the first 1,000 days of life is not only the responsibility of the health sector but also depends largely on the awareness and behavior of the community. In many ethnic minority areas, old customs such as excessive abstinence during pregnancy, early weaning, micronutrient-deficient diets, etc. are still common. Although communication has been promoted, behavioral change is still limited and unsustainable, especially in remote areas.

In the last two months of 2025, Tuyen Quang Health sector aims to reduce underweight children by 0.3%, stunted children by 0.2%; ensure that more than 98% of children receive Vitamin A and over 80% of pregnant women are provided with free multi-micronutrient tablets. To achieve this goal, stable financial resources, well-trained specialized staff and strong participation from all levels and sectors are needed.

The model of nutrition care in the first 1,000 days of life needs to be further strengthened and expanded, closely linked to the activities of health stations, schools and communities. When nutrition becomes a natural habit in every family, the journey of the first 1,000 days of life will be truly complete - so that Tuyen Quang children can start their lives with health, comprehensive development and hope.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/ngan-ngay-dau-doi-geo-mam-cho-tuong-lai-169251116064231546.htm