Nutrition

In 2023, UNICEF Viet Nam worked with partners from the government in support of national priorities driving the care, the protection of children and women, towards achievement of the SDGs. UNICEF-supported programmes contributed to directly improving children’s lives and the situation of their families, and further reinforce the systems and gender…, The situation of children in 2023, Viet Nam has achieved significant milestones in driving comprehensive growth and development for children.  However, many are still at risk of being left behind. , Our impact, In 2023, with the incredible support of our partners, UNICEF made waves of change for Vietnamese children. Here's a sneak peek into the incredible milestones we achieved together, sparking smiles, dreams, and brighter futures across the country. , Health and Nutrition Health and Nutrition, UNICEF support to develop a national COVID-19 vaccine action plan for 2023 resulted in 8,131,709 children aged 5-17 years and 963,928 children under one-year-old vaccinated. To offset an acute national vaccine shortage, UNICEF procured and delivered to Viet Nam 676,300 doses of DTP-HepB-Hib vaccines. In a further boost to national vaccination…, Water, sanitation and hygiene Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Through UNICEF’s harnessing of innovative climate-resilient technology, Viet Nam’s first solar powered net-zero toilet was installed at a primary school in the Mekong Delta region as part of a unique public-private partnership. This is the first step towards rolling out this green energy sanitation solution in schools nationwide. UNICEF’s direct…, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, UNICEF supported development of guidelines to monitor and evaluate Viet Nam’s Disaster Risk Management plan, a national guideline for disaster preparedness drills focused on children and communities. It will also help assess implementation of international Disaster Risk Reduction frameworks. 63,659 children participated in the UNICEF-supported…, Education Education, UNICEF supported Government Education partners to implement competency-based learning from pre-school to upper secondary school benefiting 21 million children with improved social emotional learning, transferable and green skills, digital literacy and gender equality. Four million preschool age children nationwide (two million girls) benefited…, Child Protection Child Protection, UNICEF’s technical support to Government yielded critical improvements in legal documents to strengthen social work, child protection and child justice systems. This included an inter-agency regulation on responding to cases of violence and child sexual abuse, alongside circulars to create and enhance social worker positions in hospitals and…, Social Protection Social Protection, UNICEF continued to generate evidence and advocate for investments in child-related social policies – inclusive of children living in multi-dimensional poverty, with disabilities and ethnic minorities – as crucial drivers of Viet Nam's sustainable development. Quality UNICEF data and research informed Viet Nam’s social policy priorities during the…

At 1 year old, your child is learning to eat on their own. They can chew food as well as you can, so they can eat the same foods as the rest of the family., In brief: Feeding your child at 1–2 years, At 1 year, solid foods – including healthy snacks – are now your child’s main source of energy and nutrition. Jar icon Your child can take between three quarters to one cup of food three to four times a day, plus one to two snacks between meals. Breastfeeding icon Continue breastfeeding as much as your child wants, until at least 2 years old. no…, What to feed your child, Your child can eat anything, so you can give them some of all the food your family eats and make every bite count. Each meal needs to be packed with nutritious food. Be sure your child has a portion of animal foods (milk, dairy, eggs, meat, fish and poultry) each day, plus legumes (like chickpeas, lentils or peas) – or nuts, and orange or green…, How much food and how often, Your child can take between three quarters to one cup of food three to four times a day, plus one to two snacks between meals. If you’re not breastfeeding, then your child will need to eat more often. At 1 year, about the time children start to walk, your child's feeding schedule should include four to five meals a day, plus two healthy snacks.…, Foods to avoid, Avoid junk food and soft drinks. Factory-made snacks like crisps, cookies, cakes, soda and candy are unhealthy. They have high amounts of sugar, salt, fat and chemicals, and take up space in your child’s stomach that should be filled with nutritious foods., Mealtime tips, Having their own bowl of food will help your child learn to feed themselves. Start as soon as your child wants. Give them all the food they need and plenty of time to eat.  At first, your child will be slow and messy. Help them to get most of the food in their mouth (instead of on themself or the floor!). Encourage your child to finish it and make…, What to do when your child refuses to eat solid foods, Make sure your child is hungry at mealtimes and has not just had a snack. Although breastfeeding continues to be healthy for your child, breastfeed them only after their meal. At this age, they should eat solid food first.  Give your child healthy food that they like or mix the food they like with food they don't like as much. Try different food…

Young children need enough nutritious food every day to grow healthy, strong and smart. At around 6 months old, your baby is growing quickly and needs more energy and nutrients than at any other time in their life., In brief: Feeding your baby at 6–12 months, After 6 months, breastmilk is still your baby’s main source of energy and nutrients, but solid foods should now be added. Jar icon Your baby has a small stomach and needs to be eating small amounts of soft nutritious food frequently throughout the day.  fruits icon In addition to grains and tubers, feed your baby a variety of foods – especially…, Your baby's first foods, When your baby is 6 months old, they are just learning to chew. The first foods need to be soft so they’re very easy to swallow, such as porridge or well mashed fruits and vegetables. Did you know that when porridge is too watery, it doesn't have as many nutrients? To make it more nutritious, cook it until it’s thick enough not to run off the…, Feeding your baby: 6–8 months old, From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which they shouldn't eat until they reach 12 months old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals. As your baby gets increasing amounts of solid foods, they should continue to get the same…, Feeding your baby: 9–11 months old, From 9–11 months old, your baby can take half a cup of food three to four times a day, plus a healthy snack. Now you can start to chop up soft food into small pieces instead of mashing it. Your baby may even start to eat food with their fingers. Continue to breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry. Each meal needs to be both easy for your baby to…, Feeding non-breastfed babies, If you're not breastfeeding, your baby will need to eat more often. They'll also need to rely on other foods, including milk products, to get all the nutrition their body needs. Start to give your baby solid foods at 6 months of age, just as a breastfed baby would need. Begin with two to three spoonfuls of soft and mashed food four times a day,…

As your baby grows, so do their nutritional needs. During the first two years, up to 75 per cent of each meal goes to building your baby’s brain. Here’s when to introduce your baby to solid foods and why getting the timing right is so important., In brief: Feeding your baby solid foods, Breastfeeding icon Before 6 months, breastmilk alone meets all your baby’s energy and nutrition needs. plate with food icon Start to introduce soft foods at 6 months when your baby needs more energy and nutrients than your milk alone can provide.  Pot and Spoon icon At 6 months, start giving your baby just two to three spoonfuls of soft food, such…

As a parent, we know that ensuring nutritious and safe food for your child is your top priority. Providing the right foods is especially important during the first three years of life, when your child grows quickly and needs plenty of energy and nutrients. For children between 6 months and 3 years, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains,…

If you are the parent of a toddler, chances are you have had some struggles come mealtime. Fussy eating is a common concern for parents around the world, with many worrying that an uncooperative child at mealtime could lead to their child not getting the diverse source of nutrients they need. Young children’s tastes and food preferences change…

BANGKOK/HANOI, 18 December 2023 – A new study has revealed high sugar and salt content in commercially produced packaged foods marketed for children aged 6 months to 3 years in Southeast Asia, as well as widespread use of potentially misleading and deceptive labelling and lack of strict regulations around product composition and sale. The study,…

Multimedia package: PHOTOS and VIDEO FOOTAGE   HA NOI/BRUSSELS, 11 May 2023 – Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians who is Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium, wrapped up a three-day visit to Viet Nam that highlighted significant achievements towards realizing child rights as well as the key challenges the most vulnerable children still face.…

Máy and Yêu are among over 200,000 children in Viet Nam who suffer every year from severe wasting. UNICEF works tirelessly to ensure that no child’s life is threatened by this disease.  The child would not stop crying in the hospital ward. One hand fumbling with a yellow duck toy, the father pulled her in and quietly stroked her thin hair. At age…, Late detection and treatment, This was not the first time that Máy was brought to Dien Bien Dong District Hospital, Dien Bien, where UNICEF supports the strengthening of the nutrition programme at the commune level. Her life is again in critical condition because of severe wasting 1 .  “Her parents brought her when the case is already too severe. She no longer has an appetite…, Severe wasting, a silent emergency, Despite progress, Máy is one of over 200,000 children in Viet Nam who still suffer annually from severe wasting. The disease is life-threatening and detrimental to children’s healthy development, yet access to its treatment remains low. For marginalized households that often suffer from multidimensional poverty like Máy’s family, the silent…, A wonder that saves lives, In another village in Dien Bien province, Yêu, who just turned 1, was regularly sick.  “She coughed a lot, was feverish and I had to skip our farming work to stay home with her,”  said her mother Dúa.  When contacted by the UNICEF-supported Pu Nhi Health centre, she and her husband drove through 11 kilometres of rutted mountain roads to bring Yêu…, UNICEF in action, After a few weeks, Yêu started eating better and gained weight. Her smiles were bracketed by soft rosy cheeks, while her eyes sparkled. She crawled quickly, chewed fingers, and pointed at her surroundings with curiosity and enthusiasm.   “She has not been sick and could eat well! She doesn’t cry as much as before. Now I feel better going to work…, An unrelenting mission to end malnutrition, With both local and global expertise, UNICEF’s interventions for nutrition are evidence-based, cross-sectoral, and innovative. The goal is unchanged: to end all forms of malnutrition.  “UNICEF supports the national health system to scale up the most practical solutions and focus on increased levels of local ownership,”  said Quang. In Dien Bien…

Miss World Vietnam 2019, Ms. Luong Thuy Linh was part of the co-creation workshop and launch event. Miss World Vietnam 2019, Ms. Luong Thuy Linh was part of the co-creation workshop and launch event. Bangkok, 27 February 2023 – The food systems in East Asia and the Pacific, known for its diverse and vibrant food culture is changing rapidly.…

HA NOI, 13 November 2022 – UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell concluded a three-day visit to Viet Nam, commending the country for its many gains for children. Russell also called for urgent action to address challenges like malnutrition and inequalities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19 and climate shocks. “In the past few decades,…

Ha Noi (Viet Nam), 18 May 2022.- UNICEF continues to release global evidence on the rising levels of malnutrition in children. All forms of this disease are prevalent in Viet Nam, where the estimate based on 2019 annual nutrition surveillance - revealed that 230,000 under-5 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) annually.…