World Vision-formed Nutrition Clubs Help to Lower Malnutrition Rate
Written by Truong Quang Hoa
Fewer children under five have suffered from malnutrition at many communities in the central province of Quang Tri since World Vision set up nutrition clubs, according to a workshop held on October 16.
“The malnutrition rate has declined by 1-3 per cent at the communities in which nutrition clubs are opened. The figure is just 0.3-1.5 per cent at others which haven’t had the clubs,” said Dr Tran Dang Thu, director of health center of Hai Lang district. “The decline showed that nutrition clubs have positively helped local authorities achieve their child healthcare targets.”
Till date, World Vision has established 70 nutrition clubs with the participation of about 2,500 mothers at three districts in the province, namely, Hai Lang, Huong Hoa, Vinh Linh. At the clubs, the mothers share their experience on child healthcare, attend communication sessions on similar topics and practise to cook nutrition meals for their children.
At the workshop, representatives from departments of External relations, Health, Center of health education communication, health centers and mothers from nutrition clubs in Hai Lang, Huong Hoa and Vinh Linh districts, shared their experiences on implementing the model over the past time and discussed plans to expand the model.
“After listening to the participants’ feedbacks about the implementation of nutrition club, we realize the clubs should be replicated at other areas. The clubs have legal status and mobilise community members’ active participation,” Dr Tran Van Thanh, Director of Provincial Health Department, said at the workshop.
Addressing at the event, World Vision Vietnam’s Advocacy and External Relations Director, Khong Huong Lan, shared, “Child nutrition and child healthcare are one of priorities of World Vision Vietnam’s programmes and national strategy. I hope Quang Tri Health Department and World Vision will have more chances to share our information, our good lessons and the effective implementation of national nutrition policies. Therefore, we can join hand to reduce the malnutrition and mortality rate of children as well as improve maternal health in the province in the coming time.”
“I believe what we are doing is a great contribution to achieving Millennium Development Goad 4 and 5 (to reduce the number of under-five child deaths by two-thirds and to lower the number of maternal deaths by three-quarters) and to the Global Child Health Now Campaign, which is implemented by World Vision between 2010 and 2015.”
Initiated by World Vision, nutrition clubs encourage the participation of mothers. They join the clubs to learn about health-related topics and to use available home food to cook nutritious meals for their children. The mothers can also their experience about raising children, their life’s difficulties and their family’s economic development plan.
Apart from the model, World Vision has other activities to improve child nutrition in Quang Tri and other provinces in the country, including building capacity for community-based health staff, the provision of behaviour change communication materials to villagers, health monitoring for children, awareness raising about maternal and child healthcare for pregnant women, nutrition assistance to malnourished children, the integration of livelihood development model and home food producing.
Up to 25.7 per cent of children under five suffered from stunting malnutrition in Vietnam in 2011, according to the National Institute of Nutrition.