Five million Vietnamese neonates given vitamin A gratis

The National Nutrition Institute yesterday said that on the Micronutrient Day (June 1 and 2), nearly five million neonates in the age of six and 36 months and 500,000 new mothers will get vitamin A supplements gratis.
Five million neonates will get vitamine A (Photo: SGGP)
Five million neonates will get vitamine A (Photo: SGGP)

The institute said that it has so far given 7.6 million doses of vitamin A capsules to serve kids and new mothers in 63 cities and provinces on the occasion of the special day.

Institute director Dr. Le Danh Tuyen said that the country has around 13 percent of children under five who are short of the vitamin while the rate is higher in the mountainous districts.  

Vitamin A plays a critical role in maintaining healthy vision, neurological function, healthy skin, and more. Vitamin A- like all antioxidants- is involved in reducing inflammation through fighting free radical damage.  It supports the immune function.

Some of the best sources of Vitamin A include eggs, milk, liver, carrots, yellow or orange vegetables such as squash, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables.

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