The central province of Nghe An aims to roll out the school milk program on a larger scale from the 2017-2018 academic year in an effort to prevent malnutrition among pre-school and primary school kids.

Accordingly, all children in pre-schools and primary schools across the province will receive 180ml milk packages five days per week. The malnutrition rate among under-five children in the locality is expected to drop to the country’s average in 2020.

A school milk proram launched in Hanoi on October 9.
Photo for illustration: doisongphapluat.com

Nghe An is working on a mechanism to provide free-of-charge milk for poor children, those with disabilities and orphans.

During the 2015-2016 academic year, the province piloted a school milk program worth over VND 87.1 billion (USD 3.9 million), of which VND 32.3 billion (USD 1.45 million) came from TH Group, one of Vietnam's leading milk suppliers.

Data from the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDG) initiative shows that the rate of child malnutrition in Vietnam is declining by 1.5 percent every year. From 44 percent in 1994, the rate has dropped to under 20 percent at present.

Source: VNA