Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City had 99 percent of their children provided with vitamin A, while some mountainous provinces and the Central Highlands had 94 percent, the lowest rate in the country.

Eighteen disadvantaged localities out of 64 cities and provinces nationwide gave vitamin A to children from six to 60 months, and the remainder, to children from six to 36 months.

This was part of the nationwide Micro-Nutrition Day Campaign, which was aimed at reducing blindness among children and reducing their death rate. The campaign held annually by the National Institute of Nutrition, has helped reduce health problems related to vitamin A deficiency and iron anaemia in women and children.

In 2006, the rate of anaemia was 37.6 percent for pregnant women and 36.7 percent for children.

The Ministry of Health aims to reduce malnutrition rates among children aged under five from 23.8 percent to 22 percent in 2007 and to below 20 percent in 2010.