Raising awareness of the pivotal role of school nutrition

Sharing domestic and international experiences

On the morning of August 14, in Hanoi, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health , and Vietnam Television to organize the International Scientific Conference on School Nutrition in 2025 "For a healthy Vietnam - For Vietnamese stature".

Attending the event were: Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia - Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; Mr. Le Quoc Minh - Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper; representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Training , Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, relevant ministries, branches and agencies; many domestic and foreign experts and scientists.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Le Tan Dung stated: Ensuring proper nutrition combined with physical exercise is one of the top important tasks to help develop the physical and mental health of each citizen.

Throughout life, nutrition is not only the foundation of individual health, but also the pillar of population quality, a decisive factor in the stature, physical strength, intelligence and labor productivity of an entire nation.

In particular, for children, pupils and students, ensuring proper nutrition combined with increasing physical activities and developing physical education appropriate to each stage of physical development plays an important role in their physical, intellectual and mental development.

Implementing the new human development orientation towards 2045, General Secretary To Lam directed: “Towards 2045 with a vision of a comprehensively developed Vietnam, the orientation of human development, especially the young generation, becomes a strategic priority. First of all, it is necessary to invest heavily in education and training to develop intelligence and knowledge. Along with that is the strategy to improve the health and physical fitness of Vietnamese people”.

To realize the direction of General Secretary To Lam and the goals in the resolutions, directives and conclusions of the Central Committee on taking care of people's health and improving school health, it requires the synchronous, drastic and effective participation of Party committees at all levels, sectors and levels, from the Central to local levels.

Deputy Minister Le Tan Dung emphasized that the workshop is of great significance, a forum for exchanging and discussing to clarify theories and scientific bases when approaching nutrition according to the human life cycle, nutritional practices for Vietnamese people, school nutrition, contributing to caring for and building a healthy young generation of Vietnam, with optimal physical and intellectual development, and improving the stature of Vietnamese people.

Thereby raising awareness of the key role of school nutrition; affirming the role of businesses in the goal of ensuring nutrition in general, including school nutrition. The results of the workshop are the basis for ministries and branches to advise on the issuance of leadership and direction documents to build a comprehensive nutrition policy framework.

Completing the policy framework on school nutrition

At the workshop, delegates presented papers and discussed key issues related to school nutrition such as: current situation, challenges and solutions; legal framework and effective school nutrition support policies. The workshop also heard experts from Japan, Germany, China and the UK share their experiences in formulating nutrition policies for school-age children.

Opinions also said that the important solution is to perfect the institution to create a solid legal corridor; mobilize the participation of ministries, branches, localities, communities, businesses, and social organizations to invest, support the improvement of facilities, provide clean food and deploy appropriate nutrition models.

Speaking at the workshop, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia praised and highly appreciated the initiative to organize the International Scientific Workshop on the topic of School Nutrition in 2025 "For a healthy Vietnam - For Vietnamese stature".

This is a very practical scientific activity to implement the policies of the Party and State and the direction of General Secretary To Lam on building a healthy Vietnam, where all people can live long, healthy, happy lives; and human resources have enough health, physical strength, spirit, intelligence and morality.

Through profound and dedicated speeches from managers, agencies, organizations at home and abroad, experts, scientists, the Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission highly appreciated the content of the discussion and opinions, focusing on analyzing and affirming the essential role of nutrition for Vietnamese people, especially school nutrition, in improving the health, stature, physical strength, and intelligence of the young generation.

Many proposals and recommendations open up very practical solutions, with scientific basis, practicality and high feasibility, especially approaching nutrition according to the human life cycle associated with the cultural, social context and practical conditions of Vietnam.

The Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission suggested that, after the workshop, relevant departments, ministries, branches and agencies, especially the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training and localities focus on implementing 6 key contents.

Firstly, it is necessary to renew thinking, unify will in perception and action, and further synchronize the Central's policies and strategic decisions on national development and national defense in the new situation.

Second, perfecting the synchronous institutions on protecting and taking care of people's health; promoting innovation and creating development; needing to move towards a higher legal system in this field because people are the most valuable asset and the decisive factor.

Third, strengthen information and propaganda about self-awareness, habits, cultural lifestyle, responsibility and skills of each citizen, especially the young generation, in proactively practicing, protecting and improving the health of themselves, their families and the community.

Fourth, mobilize all social resources, especially the participation of the private economic sector, to realize and effectively implement programs to improve the physical strength, intelligence and stature of Vietnamese people.

Fifth, proactively and actively cooperate internationally to research and learn knowledge, skills and experience in protecting, caring for and improving people's health; apply them to Vietnam's reality. At the same time, responsibly contribute to the common efforts of the international community in ensuring human security, medical and humanitarian activities, rescue, disaster relief, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, catastrophes and wars.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/nang-cao-nhan-thuc-ve-vai-tro-then-chot-cua-dinh-duong-hoc-duong-post744079.html