HANOI, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Vietnam has opened a National Anti-
malnutrition Campaign, aiming to reduce the number of malnourished
children under five to 30 percent this year, according to a report
of the local daily Vietnam News on Friday.
   The campaign also hopes to reduce the number of children
weighing less than 2.5 kilograms (kg) to 8 percent and
malnutrition among child-bearing age women to 33 percent this year.
   The project will be implemented in coordination with initial
health care programs and map out strategic methods for child and
mother health care.
   Project workers will focus on securing health and nutrition for
mothers and children, increasing their vitamin A and iron intake,
encouraging breast feeding during the first four months,
emphasizing the need for better care of sick and recovering
children, and disseminating family hygiene.
   During 1995-2000 period, the malnutrition rate of the country
fell by an average of 2.2 percent annually, compared to a 0.6
percent drop per year during 1985-1995 period.
   Malnutrition among child-bearing-age women fell to 34-35
percent in 2000.
   Last year, 31.9 percent of Vietnamese children were
malnourished.  Enditem