The Vietnam Ministry of Health and Abbott signed partnership to implement two projects

On September 21st, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Ministry of Health and Abbott signed the Memorandum of Understanding for implementing the two projects: “Improvement of nutrition status for pregnant women and lactating mothers”; and “Improvement of quality of clinical nutrition in hospitals in Vietnam”.

The National Strategy on Nutrition for the period 2011 - 2020 and vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister has identified that one of the important directions to improve the people stature is providing early nutrition intervention for women in reproduction age, pregnant women and during the golden period of the child’s first 1.000 days (from start of a woman’s pregnancy until the child’s second birthday).

The Project “Improvement of nutrition status for pregnant women and lactating mothers in Vietnam” will focus on activities including: Developing a National nutrition guideline for pregnant women and lactating mothers; Enhancing knowledge about nutrition for health care staff and members of Vietnam Women's Union through implementation of National Nutrition Guideline for pregnant women and lactating mothers,…

Mr. Nguyen Duc Vinh, Director General of Maternal and Child Health Department said that “The Project “Improvement of nutrition status for pregnant women and lactating mothers in Vietnam” under partnership between the Ministry of Health and Abbott will contribute to implementing the National Strategy on Nutrition approved by the Prime Minister.”

The Project “Improvement of quality of clinical nutrition in hospitals in Vietnam” will focus on developing a quality improvement program for clinical nutrition to roll out in Vietnam hospitals (VN QIP). The program includes malnutrition screening tools and nutrition assessment process for inpatients in hospitals in Vietnam; providing training courses for QIP practice and clinical nutrition process for health care professionals in hospitals and implementing clinical nutrition guideline in hospitals in Vietnam.

Mr. Luong Ngoc Khue - Director General of Medical Services Administration, Mr. Nguyen Duc Vinh - Director General of Maternal and Child Health Department and Mr. Douglas Kuo - General Manager of Abbott Vietnam have signed two Memorandums of Understanding for cooperation to implement these projects.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. PhD. MD. Nguyen Viet Tien, Deputy Minister of Health stressed: "The Vietnam Ministry of Health highly appreciates the support from Abbott for the cooperation in implementing The National Strategy on Nutrition. These two projects will contribute to the improvement of nutrition status for the people, especially to the faster decrease of stunning malnutrition in Vietnam as well as the enhancement of inpatients’ health and clinical treatment efficiency in hospitals.”

Mr Douglas Kuo, General Manager of Abbott Vietnam explains: “The agreements we sign today with the Ministry of Health reinforces Abbott’s continued commitment to Vietnam – to bring practical and relevant guidelines to healthcare professionals, enhance the quality of life of the community and improve public healthcare in Vietnam in the long term.”

P.V