Dr Nguyen Van Cuong, nutritionist at FrieslandCampina Vietnam, speaks about the importance of nutrition for mothers and babies at a recent conference in Lam Dong Province. Photo courtesy of FrieslandCampina Vietnam
Women need sufficient knowledge about nutrition starting in pregnancy to help their children grow up healthy and strong, both mentally and physically, nutritionists said.
Speaking at a recent conference on proper nutrition for women’s health, Dr Vo Thi Dem, head of Tu Du Hospital’s Nutrition Department, underscored the importance of nutrition for mothers and babies, especially from the early stages of pregnancy.
“Nutrition is important at every age,” she said. “Both women and their babies need proper nutrients.”
Cil Bri, vice president of Lam Dong Province’s Women’s Union, said, “Today women are mothers, workers and a baby’s first teacher.”
They play a vital role in not only contributing to socio-economic development but also raising and educating their children, she added.
So it is vital for women to understand the role of nutrition in raising and teaching their children, she added.
Dr Nguyen Van Cuong, nutritionist at FrieslandCampina Vietnam, the conference’s organiser, said the event aims to provide comprehensive knowledge on the importance of nutrition for both women and their children.
“We need to teach women about the importance of good nutrition,” he said. “It is also important to help them and their children establish healthy eating habits.”
A woman who breeds dairy cows in Lam Dong Province. Photo courtesy of FrieslandCampina Vietnam
With its mission of “For Viet Nam to Leap Forward and Reach Higher”, FrieslandCampina, one of the world’s largest dairy cooperatives, aims to focus on child nutrition education and development.
It also aims to improve the lives of people, especially its partner dairy farmers through programmes for dairy cow development, environmental protection and sustainable development.
During its 150 years of establishment and 25 years of presence in Viet Nam, it has processed milk from dairy farms into a wide range of dairy products and ingredients.
It has provided 12,000 training courses in breeding dairy cows according to Dutch quality standards for more than 3,000 farming households.
It has also provided free healthcare services for dairy cows and farm management services to more than 8,500 farmers in Viet Nam.
The event was attended by more than 400 women of reproductive age in Lam Dong Province. — VNS