School nutrition intervention to develop Vietnamese people's stature and physical strength

The height of Vietnamese young men and women has increased but is about 5-7 cm lower than that of Japanese and Koreans. Nutritional intervention for school-age children needs to be focused on, because this is the 'final golden stage' for developing stature and physical strength for the young generation.

International scientific conference on school nutrition "For a healthy Vietnam - for Vietnamese stature", organized by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training. Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia attended.

At the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc said that the height of Vietnamese youth in the past decade (from 2010 - 2020) has improved significantly, with 18-year-old male and female youth increasing by 3.7 cm and 2.6 cm, respectively.

The rate of malnutrition and stunting in children under 5 years old has decreased from over 30% a decade ago to below 19.6% (in 2020). This rate of reduction is faster than the average in Southeast Asia.

School-age children need to maintain proper nutrition and exercise to have the best physical condition when they grow up.

PHOTO: NAM SON

Mr. Thuc also said that although it has improved, the average height of Vietnamese youth is still 5-7 cm lower than that of Japanese and Korean people and 2-3 cm lower than that of Thai people.

Mr. Thuc believes that school age is the "final golden stage" for comprehensive intervention in nutrition and exercise, creating lifelong transformational impacts. Therefore, investing in nutrition should be considered an investment in development. A comprehensive legal framework and strong enough policies are needed to develop the stature and physical strength of the young generation.

Ms. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), added that the ministry is finalizing the draft law and plans to report it to the Government for submission to the National Assembly for consideration in October.

Some regulations related to school nutrition will soon change from "recommended" to "mandatory" when included in the Law on Disease Prevention, ensuring that students receive comprehensive health care, both physically and mentally.

Speaking at the workshop, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia emphasized the need to perfect and synchronize institutions to protect and care for people's health, promote innovation and create development; it is necessary to move towards a higher legal system related to this field, because people are the most valuable asset.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia requested relevant departments, ministries, branches and agencies together with localities to focus on synchronously implementing solutions, including strengthening information and propaganda on self-awareness, living habits and skills of people, especially the young generation, in proactively practicing, protecting and improving the health of themselves, their families and the community.

Mobilize all social resources and the participation of the private economic sector to realize and effectively implement programs to improve physical and mental health and enhance the stature of Vietnamese people.

At the same time, promote the application of science, technology, and digital transformation to optimize the effectiveness of governance, management, and monitoring of health care and nutrition. Strengthen multi-sectoral and inter-sectoral coordination to effectively implement tasks and solutions to protect, care for, and improve people's health, especially in mountainous, border, and island areas.

Previously, according to the results of the school meal model ensuring proper nutrition combined with increased physical activity for children and students in Vietnam, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training in coordination with the Ministry of Health and TH Group in 2020-2021 in 10 provinces and cities, the preschool group increased the average height by about 3.6 cm and the average weight increased by 1.2 kg. In the group of primary school students, the average height increased by about 2.8 cm and the average weight increased by 1.9 kg.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/can-thiep-dinh-duong-hoc-duong-de-phat-trien-tam-voc-the-luc-nguoi-viet-nam-185250814202023936.htm