TH pioneers in accompanying the "School Milk" Program
(Baonghean) - Implementing the Government's policy, TH Group has made many efforts in developing the "School Milk" Program in Vietnam, especially accompanying Nghe An in bringing quality fresh milk products to schools.
TH pioneer
In Vietnam, school-age children currently account for 1/3 of the population, of which the golden age of preschool and primary school has 12 million children. This is the stage that determines the maximum development of genetic factors in stature, physical strength and intelligence. However, the rate of micronutrient deficiency and stunting in children is still high, and school nutrition has not received attention, affecting stature and physical strength when they grow up. The average height of Vietnamese young men is currently only 163.7cm, 13.1cm lower than the standard of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the average height of Vietnamese women is 153cm, 10.7cm lower than the standard.
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| Photo: PV |
On July 8, 2016, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam signed Decision No. 1340/QD-TTg approving the National School Milk Program to improve nutritional status, contributing to improving the stature and physical strength of preschool and primary school students by 2020. Accompanying the program, TH Group has pioneered in contributing to the development of School Milk Standards, clinical research and the launch of TH school MILK fresh milk. At the same time, there are initiatives on support mechanisms so that poor and near-poor students can drink school milk. Through the School Milk Account - For Vietnamese Stature, it has mobilized finance for poor and near-poor children to drink milk.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam - Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, "Milk is the best supplement for all stages of life". Supplementing dairy products with reasonable doses helps children have enough calcium and increase height by 0.4 cm per year. TH school MILK of TH Group ensures these factors, which have been confirmed from clinical research and practical implementation.In Nghe An, in the 2015-2016 school year, the Provincial People's Committee issued the Provincial School Milk Program, with the support of TH Group, using TH school MILK. The school milk drinking activity has been implemented in 17/21 districts, cities and towns with 215,851 preschool and primary school students registering to participate. According to Ms. Vu Thu Hang - Communications Director of TH Group, the results show that the factors of malnutrition by weight/age, malnutrition by height/age in preschools and primary schools have all decreased significantly compared to the average annual decrease from 2010 to present as well as the average decrease in schools that have not implemented the program. By the 2016-2017 school year, 311,733 students from kindergartens and primary schools in 21 districts, cities and towns had their families register to participate on a voluntary basis, reaching 69% of the total number of students in the province and an increase of 19% compared to the project of the 2015-2016 school year.
Fresh milk from the farm is the optimal choice
There are currently more than 60 countries in the world participating in and responding to World School Milk Day launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In most countries, school milk is made from fresh milk. However, while countries, especially developed countries, use up to 97% fresh milk for drinking, and the remaining 3% powdered milk for formula, in Vietnam, up to this point, the proportion of powdered milk mixed with reconstituted milk is still up to 70%.
On September 28, 2016, the Ministry of Health issued Decision No. 5450/BYT on temporary regulations for fresh milk products serving the School Milk Program, emphasizing that fresh milk used in the program must meet standards.
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| Photo: PV |
With a burning desire to improve the Vietnamese race, TH Group has actively promoted the implementation of the School Milk model, pioneering in the research and testing of formula milk supplemented with micronutrients for school-age children. The first model, in collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition, deployed in Nghia Dan district (Nghe An) in 2014, was assessed as serious, scientific and had transparent control groups; implemented in 15 kindergartens and primary schools with 3,600 children using school milk supplemented with micronutrients. With the TH School MILK school milk product with a specialized formula developed by the National Institute of Nutrition with the scientific advice of Dr. Frank Wieringa - Nutritionist at the French Institute of Nutrition, the results after the model showed that the rate of underweight malnourished children decreased sharply by about 3%; stunted malnutrition decreased by about 1.5%; The deficiency of some key micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc has been significantly improved. This is a significant success compared to efforts to reduce the rate of underweight and stunting nationwide (from 2012 to 2013, the rate of underweight nationwide decreased by 0.9% and the rate of stunting decreased by 0.8%). This is also the first product to be confirmed by the Ministry of Health to be effective in research to improve the nutritional and micronutrient status of children. In particular, all ingredients used are of natural origin, supplemented with a mixture of minerals and micronutrients to help enhance the intelligence and physical strength of Vietnamese children.
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At TH Dairy Farm in Nghia Dan, there are currently 45,000 cows, of which about 45 - 50% are regular milk cows. Here, TH Group invests in high technology and 4.0 technology interwoven to create products with output and quality in the direction of sustainable development and health benefits. Along with a healthy herd of dairy cows, the farm has a closed milking and milking storage system to ensure the best quality of raw milk.
TH School MILK fresh milk products are supplemented with micronutrients based on scientific calculations and are of high quality (calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, iodine, folic acid and a mixture of vitamins A, C, D & B group...) to help promote height, enhance eyesight and concentration, suitable for school-age children.