More that 80 students of An Nghia High School in HCM City have fainted due to malnutrition recently, according to the municipal Department of Health.
Two among the 'fainting students' at An Nghia High School
The situation has mainly affected 11th and 12th graders.
The school's headmaster said the problem is attributable to low blood pressure, resulting from a lack in nutrition, staying up late, worrying about their grades and a lack of calcium.
A health team came to inspect the well being of the students, and their suggestion was that parents take better care of their children.
According to the results, among the 'fainting students', many suffer from malnutrition, with only two showing signs of mental health problems. The school has provided free breakfast and drinks for students in need.
Doctor Nguyen Thi Nga Huong, Head of Clinical Nutrition Ward of the HCM City Nutrition Centre, said, “The fainting incidents are related to lack of nutrition. A number of students said their breakfasts consist of instant noodles, and some do not eat in the morning."
“A person needs around 700 calories for breakfast, while instant noodles provide around 300,” Huong added.
This is the first time the HCM City Department of Health received massive reports of fainting cases in students.
Lao Dong Newspaper cited a survey by Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hanh, from the HCM City Department of Health, stating that 20% of students at high schools in HCM City do not take regular meals due to school pressure. The survey indicated that roughly 20% of pupils give up at least one meal per day, and many who live in suburban areas suffer from anemia.
Schools have been advised to hold meetings so that doctors and psychologists can provide students and their parents with knowledge about health care.
