A child is given medical checkup in Vietnam. Photo by UNICEF
"SAM is the most lethal form of undernutrition, and one of the top threats to child survival," she said. "Around 1 in 5 deaths among children under 5 are attributed to this disease –globally, at least 13.6 million children under the age of 5 suffer from SAM. Tragically, a child in this condition is not a healthy child, making them more vulnerable to common illnesses. Evidence consistently shows that children with SAM are about 12 to 20 times more likely than a healthy child to die of common illnesses like pneumonia and diarrhea."
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Vietnam
A report by UNICEF shows that some 230,000 children in Vietnam suffer from severe acute malnutrition every year.
To ensure that every child who has SAM receives treatment, irrespective of their ethnicity or socioeconomic status, UNICEF calls upon the Ministry of Health, the Government and the National Assembly to ensure that policies and laws, including the upcoming revision of Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.