Directive 46/CT-TTg on nutrition in new circumstances

THEPRIME MINISTER

Directive No.46/CT-TTgdated December 21, 2017 of the Prime Minister on enhancement of nutrition in new circumstances

In the past few years, Vietnam has achieved significant results in improving nutritional status. There has been a considerable reduction in child malnutritionprevalence and the people s diet is ensured in terms of quantity and quality.Vietnam hasalso achievedthe Millennium Development Goalof reducingprevalence of moderateandsevere underweight in children earlier than planned.

In addition to the achieved results, Vietnam is still facing nutritional issues.The prevalence of stuntingremains high, accounting for up to 24.6%; the rate of obesity tends to rapidly increase, especially in urban areas; micronutrient deficiency is yet to be remedied; unhealthy diet such as salted food intake, low fruit and vegetable intake and physical inactivity increases the risk of diseases, especially non-communicable diseases. The height of the Vietnamese people is improving slowly and shorter than average height of people in many other countries in the same region. Inadequate attention is paid to diet for children, students, workers, patients and elderly people.  The National Nutrition Strategy during 2011-2020 reveals quite a few limitations. It only provides a main focus on malnutrition control, other important issues are yet to be addressed. The main cause is lack of awareness of the importance of a healthy diet of the majority of public and the authorities; nutrition works do not receive adequate attention from local governments; interdisciplinary cooperation in reaching nutrition targets is not very effective.

In order to fulfill nutrition criteria specified in the Resolution No.20-NQ/TW,the 6th Meeting of the 12th Central Committee on enhancement of citizens’ health protection, improvement, and care in new circumstances, the Prime Minister request ministries and local governments to focus on directing the performance of the following tasks:

1.The Ministry of Health shall:

a) take charge of performing and organizing performance of tasks and solutions related to nutrition according tothe Government Action Plan forthe implementation of the Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, the 6th Meeting of the 12th Central Committee on enhancement of citizens’ health protection, improvement, and care in new circumstances, including recommending, raising public awareness of diet, diet rations suitable for each group of age and special entities, and taste of the Vietnamese in each region, using local foods; focusing on addressing the issues concerning stunting, micronutrient deficiency, obesity, role of nutrition in the treatment and prevention of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, and diet for elderly people.

b) review, amend and complete nutrition policies specified in applicable legislative documents;

c) take charge of assessing the implementation of the National Nutrition Strategy during 2011-2020 according to the Prime Minister’s Decision No.226/QD-TTgdated February 22, 2012; formulate the National Nutrition Strategy for the next period and relevant programs, plans and projects to address nutrition issues in new circumstances, and fulfill the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to which Vietnam is committed to;

d) organize the fulfillment of Vietnam’s commitments according to the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Ending All Forms of Malnutrition dated November 13, 2017;

dd) promote dissemination, raise awareness and change behavior towards healthy diet and engage in physical activities suitable for each group of age and entity;

e) promote interdisciplinary cooperation in order to increase effectiveness of nutrition activities in each area. Take charge and cooperate withVietnam Women s Unionin focusing on providing nutritional care for children during their first 1000 days of life, providing healthy diet for preschoolers, elementary school students and families in order to end all forms of malnutrition, and preventing metabolic disorders and nutrition-related risk factors.

2.TheMinistry of Education and Trainingshall:

a) integrate the programs for healthy diet education and behavior change and physical activity that are suitable for children and students for the purpose of developing children in a comprehensive manner;

b) promote close cooperation between school and family to educate about and provide guidance on nutrition and physical activity suitable for children and students, especially for those in preadolescence and adolescence;

c) provide healthy school meals, execute school milk program, encourage children and students to engage in physical activities; not advertise and trade in alcoholic drinks, carbonated soft drinks and unhealthy foods in schools;

d) promote cooperation with health sector in supervising nutrition situation, nutritional interventions and heath care provided for children and students.

3. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs:

a) take charge of directing the provision of benefits for social assistance beneficiaries in accordance with regulations of law, pay attention to disadvantaged children, children of poor households, ethnic minority children and children who are living in border regions, mountainous regions, islands and extremely disadvantaged regions;

b) take charge and cooperate with relevant authorities in promoting dissemination and providing healthy diet for workers, especially female workers and workers in industrial parks.

4.TheMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Developmentshall:

a) direct the implementation of nutrition activities included in the program "No more hunger" and instruct areas to boost production to ensure food security in any event;

b) direct supply of clean water and environmental protection in rural areas according to thenational target programfor new rural development.

5.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourismshall direct the integration of physical activity and healthy diet assurance into mass movements and sporting and cultural activities in the community; disseminate benefits of mass sporting and cultural activities for health, restrict advertising of unhealthy nutritional products according to regulations.

6.People’s Committee of provinces shall:

a) direct formulation and organize implementation of local programs and plans, provide human resources and expenses to address issues concerning child malnutrition, nutrition during the first 1000 days of life, nutrition for prevention of non-communicable diseases and nutrition for high-risk groups;

b) request thePeople s Councils to include nutrition criteria in the criteria for local socio-economic development;

c) direct provision of advanced training for health workers and internal nutrition workers;

d) enhanceprivate sector involvement, mobilize human resources and promote interdisciplinary cooperation to disseminate and encourage people to have a healthy diet and fulfill nutrition criteria in areas.

7. Vietnam Women s Unionis requested to:

a) closely cooperate with health sector and People’s Committees at all levels to disseminate knowledge about healthy diet to members and mothers;

b) encourage its members and community to engage in nutritional care activities, especially nutritional care during the first 1000 days of life and healthy family meals.

8.The Ministry of Health shall submit an annual consolidated report on the implementation of the Directive to the Prime Minister.

Minister,heads of ministerial agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, People s Committees of provinces and relevant organizations and individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Directive./.

The Prime Minister

Nguyen Xuan Phuc