Speaking at the launch ceremony, Heath Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu affirmed that Vietnam is facing the issue of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency among children, which will affect the physical fitness of future generations.

Therefore, this year’s Micronutrient Day offers an opportunity for the entire society to get involved in nutritional improvement for mothers and children, he said.

The 2009 Micronutrient Day will be held nationwide on June 1-2 with a series of practical activities, including the provision of free Vitamin A supplementation for children, education on micronutrients and consultancy on food processing methods for children.

Around 4 million children are expected to get Vitamin A during the Micronutrient Day.

Thanks to the annual event, which has been held over the past 25 years, the rate of malnutrition among children under five dropped to below 20 percent in 2008, fulfilling the 2010 National Nutrition Strategy’s objective.