Providing multi-micronutrients to stunted malnourished children in A Roang, A Luoi

Economic difficulties, low awareness

Following the medical staff of A Roang commune, A Luoi to visit some households in the area, we understand that there are many reasons why the malnutrition rate in children is still high. Seeing guests coming to the house, Ms. Ho TO, a Ka Tu from the kitchen, ran up to pull a chair to make some water. At that moment, her mother-in-law also brought her granddaughter back because the child cried for food. At 11 am, O. explained that she had only cooked rice and that there was nothing to prepare food at home. PTK's daughter was more than ten months old, but her development was poor. She was slow to speak, slow to walk, her hair fell out in a ring shape... all signs of a malnourished child. She said that she also fed her child mainly with breast milk, but due to the lack of food, there was not much milk, and her child's health was also affected.

In another household, there is a 13-month-old baby who only weighs 6kg. HN's main food - this boy's name is still mainly pureed porridge. Ms. A Viet TP, the baby's mother, said that since he was young, his resistance was weak, he had asthma, and was slow to gain weight. When she went to the medical station for examination, she learned that her baby was severely malnourished, so she paid close attention to her child's nutrition. However, in the highlands, there are still many difficulties. She works in the fields and weaves so she cannot always buy good food for her child.

Knowing the circumstances and conditions of households with children with malnutrition, Ms. Ho Thi Yen, an officer at A Roang Health Station, can clearly read the names of mothers and children who need to be monitored and cared for, such as K'lum TT, PT's daughter; Ho TY, Vien TN's 3 children. All are poor households with difficult economic conditions and low awareness, so their knowledge of nutritional care for children is limited. According to the child weight and measurement synthesis report, in 2023, A Roang has about 360 households with children under 5 years old with about 350 children. The commune's malnutrition rate by weight and age is about 13.3%, and high by age is about 15.6%. Along with projects and models of nutritional care in the first 1,000 days of life, health station officers have communicated to households. In addition, from the National Target Program for Economic and Social Development of Ethnic Minority Areas, the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides multi-micronutrients for children aged 6-23 with stunting malnutrition in 7 villages. To achieve the goal of reducing the rate of stunted children in the area, many solutions and cooperation from many departments and organizations are needed.

CDC staff provide nutritional guidance to pregnant and lactating mothers in mountainous areas. Photo: CDC

Need support, join hands

In 2023, the rate of children under 5 years old with malnutrition in ethnic minority mountainous areas accounted for 18% compared to 8.1% in the whole province, affecting the quality of the population in this area. At the workshops and conferences with the participation of many local leaders, departments, organizations, health stations, women's unions, farmers' associations, youth unions, village health workers, nutrition collaborators, etc., many ideas were proposed from the grassroots level.

Typical practical suggestions include vegetable garden models for children in kindergartens, competitions to learn about the law on marriage and family to eliminate incestuous marriages and reduce early marriages; weekly nutritious porridge meals for children under 5 years old... Ms. Ho Thi He, Head of Ar Ba Nham village, Quang Nham commune shared: "I hope to have a weekly model of cooking meat and vegetable porridge to improve meals for children with disabilities. Village cadres, women, and the village youth union are ready to join hands to prepare and serve; I just hope to have a regular source of funding to maintain this porridge meal. Most households are still poor, so organizing nutritious meals to improve nutrition for children is very difficult."

From a professional perspective, the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) organizes communication activities, consulting and talking about nutrition for collaborators in poor communes with high rates of undernourished children and training courses on knowledge/practice and guidance on nutrition practices for pregnant and lactating mothers in communes under Project 7 (Improving the physical condition and stature of ethnic minorities; preventing child malnutrition under the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period).

According to the provincial CDC leader, in 2024 - 2025, the unit will organize the implementation of the first 1,000 days of nutrition care model for 40% of communes in region III to guide integrated nutrition care in prenatal care at commune health stations and in the community. At the same time, implement the essential care process for mothers and newborns during and immediately after birth; organize screening and nutritional assessment for pregnant mothers and children under 2 years old; organize demonstration sessions on feeding children based on local products/foods.

BSCKI. Le Thi Song Huong, Head of the Department of Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases - Nutrition, Provincial CDC said: Particularly for families, in addition to ensuring nutritional care in the first 1,000 days of life, it is necessary to fully vaccinate children according to the expanded immunization program, take vitamin A twice a year according to the program for children under 3 years old; monitor children's growth and development; prevent micronutrient deficiencies for mothers and children... To solve the problem of malnutrition in children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, efforts are needed not only from individuals and families but also from policies and management levels.

WISDOM