National Micronutrient Day will take place on June 1-2, promoting theessential role micronutrients play in people’s health, stature andbrainpower.

During Micronutrient Day, children aged 6to 60 months nationwide will be provided with Vitamin A, said Directorof the National Institute of Nutrition under the Health Ministry Le ThiHop at a press briefing on May 24.

The children will also receive worm treatment and have their height measured.

There will be a communication campaign to raise public knowledge onnutrition and care for women at reproductive age, pregnant andbreast-feeding women as well as children under five years old.

The National Institute of Nutrition has suggested caregivers combine 15-20 foods from the four food groups in daily meals.

Infants should be fed only breast milk in the first six months oftheir lives and be supplemented with suitable and locally availablefood, according to the institute.

The Vitamin Asupplement programme has been carried out in all communes and wardsacross the country for many years, benefiting over 90 percent ofchildren aged 6 to 36 months and between 6 and 60 months in 22disadvantaged provinces.

According to the United NationsChildren’s Fund, malnutrition among children is common in Vietnam, onein three children under-five exhibits stunted growth, reflectinginadequate health and nutrition services for women and young children.

Vietnam is one of the 24 countries that account for 80 percent of the world’s stunted children.

Vitamins and minerals are needed only in tiny quantities, but theirabsence can be devastating. Micronutrient deficiencies, however, oftenhave no visible warning signs, causing a ‘hidden hunger’ withfar-reaching consequences.-VNA