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Last updated: 16:50 - March 13, 2007 Underweight child rate to drop below 20% by 2010 http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/life/130307/life_un.htm Vietnam has set a target of reducing the number of underweight children under five to less than 20% by the decade-end. The target is included in the national nutrition strategy for five years up to 2010, which was announced by the Ministry of Health at a conference in Hanoi on March 9. The strategy also calls for a reduction of over-weight children under five to less than 5%, virtual elimination of Vitamin A deficiency and control of non-contagious diseases caused by malnutrition. Also on discussion was a five-year anti-goitre programme for 2010 with targets to supply standard iodised salt for 92.8% of the national population and reduce the goitre rate among children aged between 8 and 10 to 3.6%. Vietnam managed to reduce malnutrition among children from 31.9% in 2001 to 25.2% in 2005, reported the conference. The nation continued to be free from eye diseases caused by Vitamin A deficiency and goitre caused by iodine deficiency, which were eliminated in 2005. (VNA) © All rights, including design and copyright are owned by NhanDan Online.
