Nutritional check-up for children (photo: UNICEF/VNA)

Over 230,000 Vietnamese children under five years old suffer from SAM each year, according to a 2009 national nutrition survey, while 90 percent of SAM cases are untreated.

Vietnam has prioritized nutrition policies, and prevention and treatment of children with SAM as a key objective for its 2021 - 30 National Nutrition Strategy, as well as its National Targeted Programs.