Vietnam’s Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday the launching of the “National Guideline on Nutrition for Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers,” aiming to enhance health of women of reproductive age and the stature of Vietnamese people.

This is an important implementation step of the strategic partnership signed in September 2016 between the Ministry of Health and Abbott on the program “Improvement of nutrition status for pregnant women and lactating mothers.”

Many studies have proved that maternal nutrition affects fetal development. Nutrition deficiencies during pregnancy can increase the risk of obstetric complications and low birth weight in babies. Nutrition during breastfeeding stage has clear impacts on children’s health.

However, there are facts that relate to insufficient awareness and knowledge about nutrition of pregnant women and lactating mothers, which lead to unsuitable practices. Moreover, healthcare practitioners have not been provided with enough knowledge leading to difficulties in advising customers to change their nutrition practice habits.

In order to provide information and nutrition knowledge to doctors, midwives and nurses to take care of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers as well as scientists and teachers teaching in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and nutrient reference values, reference, research students, the Ministry of Health has developed the National Guideline on Nutrition for Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.

The guideline is compiled by leading professors and doctors working in the fields of nutrition, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics with the technical and financial support of Abbott Vietnam.

The Ministry of Health will organize a workshop to disseminate national guideline in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Training will then be conducted for health professors to help improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vinh, Director of Maternal and Child Health Department under the Ministry of Health, said: "The National Guideline on Nutrition for Pregnant and Lactating Mothers, issued and implemented with the support of Abbott Vietnam, is one of the practical activities of the Ministry of Health to effectively implement the National Strategy on Nutrition for the 2011-2020 period and visions to 2030, and was approved by the Prime Minister.”

Mr. Douglas Kuo, General Manager of Abbott Vietnam, said: “As a global healthcare company, Abbott’s mission is to help people all over the world live their best possible life through the power of health.

“Abbott is honored and proud to be part of this journey via our contribution through our science knowledge and financial support for National Guideline on Nutrition for Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers and the upcoming national program.

“This national guideline will be helpful and play key role for doctors, healthcare practitioners in daily consulting and caring for the pregnant women, lactating moms and infants and marks the milestone in improving the nutritional state of Vietnamese children in the long term”.

Mr. Douglas Kuo, General Manager of Abbott Vietnam contributing technical and financial support

MD. Low Yen Ling, Director of R&D at Abbott’s Asia Pacific Nutrition Research & Development Center in Singapore said “As a participant in the study ‘Impact of Maternal Milk Supplementation on Birth Outcomes & Breastfeeding Success,’ I understand that nutritional improvement for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers is important issue that need to be addressed comprehensively, as balanced and sufficient nutrition in this period plays critical role in improving the stature of children.

“I highly appreciate that the Ministry of Health has taken practical steps in improving maternal nutrition and healthcare for pregnant women and lactating mothers by launching this national guideline and upcoming programs implemented nationwide.”