Vinamilk is a pioneer in school milk, for a rising Vietnam.

(Baonghean.vn) - On October 5, 2016, Vinamilk held a launching ceremony for the 2016 school milk program in Tuyen Quang province, and donated 14 billion VND to students in 14 of the most disadvantaged provinces in Vietnam, including Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Kon Tum, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Yen Bai, Gia Lai, and Ninh Thuan.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long - Deputy Minister of Health and Mr. Nguyen Hong Sinh - National Sales Director of Vinamilk presented a symbolic plaque of 1 billion VND/province to students of the most disadvantaged provinces in Vietnam in the Northwest region including Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Yen Bai in the school milk program for the 2016 school year.

Within the framework of the School Milk program in 2016, Vinamilk continues to accompany 6 provinces including Ba Ria Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Bac Ninh to implement the school milk program, aiming to support preschool and primary school students, those from families with difficult economic circumstances, and those with nutritional deficiencies, so that they have the conditions to develop physically and mentally. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary, Vinamilk also donated 6 billion VND to 6 provinces implementing the School Milk program to encourage and motivate localities that are doing well.

Thus, in 2016, Vinamilk contributed a total of 20 billion VND to the School Milk program in 20 provinces, equivalent to nearly 4 million boxes of milk for preschool and primary school students. And if calculated from the 2007-2009 school year, when Vinamilk began to coordinate with the provinces to implement the program, the total number of students benefiting from the program would be 380 thousand students and the total subsidy budget from Vinamilk would be 92 billion VND.

After nearly 10 years of Vinamilk pioneering in coordinating with provinces to implement the school milk program, the total number of students benefiting from the program is 380 thousand students and the total subsidy budget from Vinamilk is 92 billion VND.

Previously, in late September 2016, with nearly 10 years of experience in successfully implementing the School Milk Program, Vinamilk, in collaboration with the Departments of Education and Training of Dong Nai, Bac Ninh and Ba Ria Vung Tau provinces, officially held a ceremony to launch the School Milk Program for the 2016-2017 school year in these localities. With about half a million students receiving milk at school in each province throughout the school year, this is a meaningful activity in response to the National School Milk Program that has just been approved by the Government.

Dong Nai is currently the province implementing the largest School Milk Program for both preschool and part of primary school children to drink milk in the school milk program. Although Dong Nai province still faces many difficulties due to its large and complex area, the program has also brought impressive results. The rate of underweight children in 2013 was 9%, but it decreased to 6.2% in 2015 and stunting children decreased from 10% to 7.5%.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Sinh - National Sales Director of Vinamilk and delegates presented milk to students of Trang Da School, Tuyen Quang.

In addition, the School Milk Program has also contributed to improving public awareness of drinking milk for children's health and development, helping parents feel secure about the origin and quality of milk their children drink at school, reducing the burden of milk costs for parents.

The School Milk Program in the world has a history of more than 100 years. In Asia and Japan, the program is considered a miraculous model in improving height. Started in the 50s of the last century, the School Milk Program has helped increase the average height of Japanese young men from 1m50, the shortest in Asia, to 1m72 today. Meanwhile, Vietnamese young men are currently the shortest in Asia.

Therefore, the implementation of the School Milk Program is urgent if Vietnam wants to improve its breed and human resource quality.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh - CEO of Vinamilk presented a symbolic board of 1 billion VND to children of Tuyen Quang province to the representative of the province at the school milk festival.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, CEO of Vinamilk shared: “Vinamilk has always been interested in promoting the School Milk program for nearly 10 years as one of the most important activities of the company. With the School Milk program, Vinamilk's products have been carefully researched on the necessary micronutrients for school-age children with the consultation of many domestic and foreign nutrition experts to ensure that students are provided with adequate nutrients during their studies at school. Vinamilk's wish is that all children drink milk every day to improve the physical stature of Vietnamese people for a Vietnam that always strives to grow.”

According to nutritionists, children's diets need a lot of micronutrients to ensure comprehensive physical and mental development, creating a good foundation for their future. However, due to economic conditions and low awareness, Vietnamese children are facing malnutrition and stunting, with a rate of up to 25% in children under 5 years old. Drinking milk is recommended by governments and nutritionists as an effective measure to promptly supplement missing nutrients, helping to improve children's physical condition, immune system, and digestion.

In addition, the School Milk Program also received technical advice from Tetra Pak (Sweden) - a unit with more than 50 years of experience supporting School Milk Programs in 56 countries.

PV