2.5 million Vietnamese kids malnourished
HANOI - Some 2.5 million Vietnamese children - more
than a third of children under the age five - are
malnourished and suffer stunted growth, the United
Nations Children's Fund said on Wednesday.
Many children also lack access to safe drinking water,
sanitary facilities and day care services, UNICEF
Representative to Vietnam Morten Giersing said in a
statement.
"Greater efforts are needed to protect children during the
earliest years of their lives, when they are going through
the most crucial stages of physical and emotional
development, and are most vulnerable," he said.
"If children don't get the care they need during this crucial
period of their life, they will never have an opportunity to
realise their full potential."
But Giersing praised Vietnam's efforts over the past
decade, noting successes in immunization, primary school
enrollment and birth registration.
He voiced concern that most of the nation's infants are
not exclusively breastfed during the first four months of
their lives.
Giersing also emphasised the pivotal role that fathers play
in children's development.
"Since Vietnamese men generally have more free time
than women, they should take advantage of this
opportunity by taking time to care for their children every
day," he said.
Associated Press - December 14, 2000.
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