Tackling malnutrition and stunting in Viet Nam

Song A Chia was born in Viet Nam's northwest mountainous province of Dien Bien. Like nearly a third of the children in this very poor province, Chia was severely malnourished, weighing less than 5kg by the time he was eight months old.

"When Chia was born, his cleft palate meant he had trouble latching on to the breast. His mother didn't have enough breast milk, explained his father, Son A Phinh." A community health care worker came to check on him and told us he was not gaining enough weight."

Son A Phinh is holding his son Song A Chia, eight months old baby, born cleft palate, malnourished and weighing less than 5kg. They are queuing for their turn during a regular health check in the Commun Health Centre of Viet Nam's northwest mountainous province of Dien Bien. Photo: UNICEF Viet Nam\2014\Truong Viet Hung