|
HANOI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The stunting rate among children in rural areas in Vietnam is twice as high as that in urban areas, due to poor nutrition, according to the latest report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday.
The UNICEF's annual flagship report named "The State of the World's Children 2016 -- A Fair Chance for Every Child," claimed the high stunting rate among children in rural areas can explain why the infant mortality rates have worsened among ethnic minority groups.
Maternal mortality remains four times higher in mountain areas than that of the lowland areas. More than 60 percent of ethnic minority households do not have access to adequate sanitation, said a press release by UNICEF.
Education plays a unique role in breaking the intergenerational cycle of vulnerability. The percentage of children who have never attended school is relatively high in Vietnam, especially among some ethnic minority groups.
The UNICEF recommended that better data on the most vulnerable children, integrated solutions to the challenges children face, innovative ways to address old problems, more equitable investment and increased involvement by communities are needed to help level the playing field for children.
Investing in the most vulnerable children can yield immediate and long-term benefits for the country, the press release added.
