Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
Pediatric malnutrition is an ongoing problem in Vietnam due to a limited supply of nourishing foods and limited access to nutrition education.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
Abbott and the Abbott Fund have teamed up with AmeriCares to support expansion of the Giao Diem Humanitarian Foundation’s Soymilk Nutritional Supplement Program, aimed at addressing nutritional health early in life.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
The program reaches more than 3,197 children in four rural provinces – Quan Tri, Hue, An Giang and Ben Tre – where childhood malnutrition rates are among the highest in the country.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
So far, the program has reduced the prevalence of childhood malnutrition in participating schools by 34 percent.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
The program works through local preschools and elementary schools like this one in Hue.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
It educates teachers and caretakers about good nutrition and uses locally grown foods and ingredients to improve the nutritional intake in the children’s diets.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
One school in Hue has its own garden, where teachers and caretakers are taught how to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
They also learn how to cook nourishing meals using local ingredients.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
The children receive daily supplements of soy milk fortified with peanuts, rice, beans, noodle soup and fruit, along with 300 mg of chewable calcium.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
The program trains teachers, school staff and parents in the basics of child nutrition so they can all work together to ensure the children receive well-balanced diets.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
Teachers distribute soy milk after it has been made.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
The Abbott Fund began supporting the program in 2006, and within 10 months, the prevalence of underweight children had dropped by nearly two-thirds.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services
Rates of anemia declined by 80 percent.
Improving Children’s Nutrition Through School-Based Services