Malnutrition stunting the growth of Vietnamese children under 5 years old is still at a high level. This  is partly caused by nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation. As reported by the National Institute of Nutrition, the rate of stunting due to malnutrition in Vietnamese children was 24.6% in 2015; the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women was 80.3%, and that of anemia was 32.8%. The leading cause of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women is inadequate maternal nutrition.

The National Strategy on Nutrition for 2011 - 2020 and the national vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister identified that providing early nutritional intervention for women of reproductive age, pregnant women and during the golden period of the child’s first 1.000 days -- beginning at the start of a woman’s pregnancy -- is essential to improve physical stature.

For this reason, the Ministry and Abbott came together on September 21 in Hanoi to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the “Improvement of nutritional status for pregnant women and lactating mothers” project.