Nestle supports breastfeeding expansion in Vietnam

From 2012 up until now, Nestle Vietnam- part of the world leading nutrition, health and wellness firm Nestle- has periodically teamed up with two above-said training units to support the knowledge and skills relating to newborn and child care for medical staff working at pediatric and gynaecological units across the country.

Apart from that, the company has also rendered support in equipment and material base for diverse training classes at medical facilities throughout the country to help better the knowledge of first-time mothers about the importance of breastfeeding.

Vu Minh Phuc, head of the Pediatrics Faculty under the Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University said, “Cooperation is a prerequisite to augment the knowledge about nutrition for the child later development periods, as well as enrich the practical knowledge and skills in newborn and child care for last-grade students majored in pediatrics as well as medical staff.”

According to the World Health Organization, the mothers need to breastfeed their newborns entirely in the first six months and continue breastfeeding and using other suitable supplementary foods after that period.

The National Nutrition Institute figures, however, show that the rate of mothers who have breastfed their newborns entirely in the first six months just approximates 19.6 per cent in Vietnam.

Similarly, the percentage of malnourished children remains high. This has called for greater attention and joint efforts from not only the medical and nutrition sectors, but also other social resources, including nutrition companies.

Stimulating breastfeeding practice is one of the activities embedded on Nestle’s global strategy on creating more values for the community in Vietnam with a view to nurturing a generation of Vietnamese children acquiring comprehensive physical and brain development under the slogan ‘Start Healthy, Stay Healthy’.