Vietnam Nutrition-system Establishment Project (VINEP)

Dr. Nguyen Do Huy1, Kenji Shinkai2
1. National Institute of Nutrition, Viet Nam
2. Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, The Ajinomoto Foundation, Japan

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Vision of VINEP
 “VINEP ” aims to investigate, in light of the realities of Vietnam, the best ways to train andlicensed dietitians, who play an important role in improving a country’s nutrition andproviding citizens with accurate information on nutrition and food hygiene. It also aims tocontribute to improving the health of all Vietnamese through establishment of a nationalnutrition system.
 In 2011, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. launched VINEP with the National Institute of Nutrition ofVietnam. Since 2017, The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) , Public Interest Incorporated
Foundation, has continued this project.

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2Organizations related to VINEP

MOET
VNIES

Jurisdiction
System Proposal

School Nutrition
Project

MOH
MOET
MOHA

NIN
AdviceSupportThe Japan Dietetic
Association (JDA)

AdviceSupportPhase 1 Donation (2012- AJICO/AVN/NIN/HMU)
Phase 2 Donation (2014- AJICO/AVN/NIN)
Phase 3 Donation (2017- TAF/AJICO/AVN)
Phase 4 Donation (2022- TAF/AJICO/JDA/AVN/NIN)TAF
Training, workshops, etc.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
(AJICO)
Ajinomoto Vietnam
Company(AVN)

Hanoi Medical University (HMU), E Hospital, Jumonji University, Kanagawa University of Human
Services, Kyoto University Hospital, University of Niigata Prefecture, Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA), National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), etc.
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Strategy of VINEP

3 Steps of VINEP
Step II:
Establishment of
Nutrition-related
Laws
Step I:
Establishment of
Nutrition Education
System 2013:
1st Bachelor course fordietitian @HMU

 2015: Job Code: Legal status of Dietician
Ongoing: Nutrition Standard: Guideline fortraining, remuneration systems

Hospitals, Schools, Communities

Step III:
Nationwide
expansionofEstablishedNutrition System
2015～：Advocacy throughworkshops and symposium

2017:1st graduationof 47 students

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History of VINEP –Dietitian Course of Hanoi Medical Univ. (2013)
 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Ajinomoto Vietnam Company provide lectures and support
for the creation of university curricula and textbooks.
 The Japan Dietetic Association (JDA), Jumonji University, Kanagawa University of
Human Services, and others cooperated in the project.

In 2013, a 4-year dietitian training course was launched at
Hanoi Medical University, and in 2017, 43 dietitians werefostered for the first time in Vietnam.
*Eight universities/about 500 dietitians in Vietnam (2023)
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History of VINEP –Dietitian Job Code (2015)
 In addition, through the JICA project, VINEP invited officials from the government,universities, and hospitals involved in the nutrition system, as well as dietitian training
course instructors and students, to Japan for training. These participants held a“Nutrition Symposium” in Vietnam to convey the importance of nutrition
management and national nutrition policy.
Job Code (extract)

As a result of these efforts, in 2015, the Vietnamese government
approved the regulations (job code) that determine the status ofdietitians. The job code is a base for Vietnamese dietitians to findemployment
at hospitals, public health centers, civil servants, etc.
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History of VINEP- One Dietitian /100 Hospital Beds (2020)
 In order to create a system for university graduates to work as dietitians, VINEP
continued to conduct training in Japan for Vietnamese dietitians. VINEP holdworkshops in Vietnam to communicate the latest information on dietitian education
systems and job codes to hospitals and government officials in Vietnam, as well as theimportance of nutritional management for diabetics, etc.
ベトナム栄養制度創設プロジェクト（VINEP）第
3期契約調印式への出席 | 在ベトナム日本国大使館 (emb-japan.go.jp)

In 2020, the Minister of Health issued a circular stating that “by 2025, there should be one
dietitian or nutritionist for every 100 hospital beds.”
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History of VINEP- One Dietitian /100 Hospital Beds (2020)
Internship program in the field of clinical nutrition at Kyoto University Hospital (2017)
Vietnamese dietitians/medical staff are learning from Japanese dietitians at Kyoto University
Hospital (KUHP)/Kyoto Women’s University (KWU)/Kanazawa Gakuin Univ. as interns.
*NCGM, Projects of Global Extension of Medical Technologies (2015, 2017)

KUHP
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KUHP

KWU
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Conclusion

Through the improvement of nutritional infrastructure to convey accurate nutritional
information through the enhancement of a nutritional system, VINEP contributes toraise and disseminate accurate nutrition knowledge to the whole country. Thoroughsuch efforts, dietitians who have acquired proper knowledge of nutrition will help
Vietnamese citizens to improve their nutrition on their own initiative.

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Thank you for your attention!

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Home | Website celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan andVietnam (japanvietnam50.org)
10Vietnam Nutrition-system Establishment Project (VINEP)– Phase 4 (2022-2025) activity plan –Dr. Nguyen Do Huy1, Kenji Shinkai2
1. National Institute of Nutrition, Viet Nam
2. Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, The Ajinomoto Foundation, Japan

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What is The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) ?
 Ajinomoto Co., Inc. operates businesses that create both social and economic value, while
THE AJINOMOTO FOUNDATION specializes in businesses that solve social issues andoperates for the public to be better.
THE AJINOMOTO FOUNDATION
Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Public Organization
Pursuit of public interest and resolution of social issues

Private Company
Pursuit of profit and coexistence with society

Separating the four social contribution activities of food andnutrition from the main business and succeeding them
Economic Value

ASV

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Social Value

Social Value

VINEP

VINEP

Not aiming foreconomic valueand return

12Vision of VINEP
 “VINEP ” aims to investigate, in light of the realities of Vietnam, the best ways to train andlicensed dietitians, who play an important role in improving a country’s nutrition andproviding citizens with accurate information on nutrition and food hygiene. It also aims tocontribute to improving the health of all Vietnamese through establishment of a nationalnutrition system.
 In 2011, Ajinomoto Co., Inc. launched VINEP with the National Institute of Nutrition ofVietnam. Since 2017, The Ajinomoto Foundation (TAF) , Public Interest Incorporated
Foundation, has continued this project.

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HumanResource

Quality&Quantity

Training in Japan Leader-Training in Universities/Medical Staff
 Make Nutrition Standards

Pilot Study Measure Effect Make Evidence/Model

V-J Working Group

Workplace
Placement
in Society
 School→Children/Family
Nutrition knowledge to wide-generation

 Hospital→Patients

Collaborate with Researchers
to Create Guidebooks/Textbooks
For Nutrition Education

VINEP workshop
 Lobby the government
to establish rules/laws
 Message to dietitians, etc.

Nutrition management

 Others（Public/industries..）→2 nd Priority
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Establish Rules/Laws

VINEP Outcome

National nutrition literacy/
Improvement of nutritional status

 Total 8 universities
 Total 500 dietitians (2023)

VINEP Workflow

Promote Placement of Dietitians

Job Code & Certificate of Dietitian-Course

Education

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VINEP phase IV (2022-2025) Project Plan
Main Items
1

School nutrition –School Nutrition Project2

Clinical nutrition –Establish Nutrition Support Team (NST)

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Overweight/Obesity among children in Vietnam
The prevalence rate of overweight and obese children in Vietnam has more than doubled in
the past 10 years.
By 2020, for every 100 children between the ages of five and 19, 19 are either overweightor obese, a sharp increase compared to the figure of 8.5 in 2010, the National Institute ofNutrition announced Thursday.
The report noted the rate of overweight and obese children is 26.8 percent in urban areas,
18.3 percent in rural districts and 6.9 percent in mountainous regions.
Ref) VNEXPRESS INTERNATIONAL, Vietnam records surge in childhood obesity, By Thuy Quynh, Thu Anh April 14, 2021

Possible causes of obesity in children Rapid changes in Vietnamese eating habits Food distribution has developed in Vietnam, making it easier for children to obtain fast
food, soft drinks and sweets.
 There are many snack shops for children around schools.
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Japanese school lunches and “Shokuiku (Food and Nutrition Education)” Japan's school nutrition programs integrate school lunch and nutrition education.
 School lunches are “living teaching materials” that enable children to learn about thetraditional food culture of the region, gratitude to the people involved in food, and theproduction, distribution, and consumption of food.* Nutrition teachers provide “guidance on food” and “nutritional and hygiene
management of school lunches”.**Ref) Japanese school lunches and “Shokuiku”, MEXT, JAPAN, https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20211012-mxt_kenshoku-000008678_1.pdf

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School Nutrition Project Japan's school nutrition programs may contribute not only to nutritional deficiencies,
but also to improving children's knowledge, attitudes, and skills, and to improving
obesity through behavior change.
 The Vietnamese-Japanese team (MOET/VNIES/MOH/NIN/UNP/JDA/TAF) has
initiated a trial of a Japanese-style school nutrition program in Vietnam in 2020, which
include the development of nutrition education programs and teaching materials, alongwith a review of school lunch menus.
 Apply the Japanese school nutrition education model in primary’s physical educationin Vietnam.
MOET : Ministry of Education and Training
VNIES : Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences
MOH : Ministry of Health
NIN: The National Institute of Nutrition
UNP: University of Niigata Prefecture (Prof. Murayama)
JDA: The Japan Dietetic Association: The Ajinomoto Foundation
27/6/2023 TAF18Ref) Prof. Murayama, Program No. SY(T9)7-422nd IUNS INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION IN TOKYO, JAPAN Dec 6-11, 2022

School Nutrition Project Online training was provided to Vietnamese dietitian.
 The menu pattern for school lunch is a combination of a staple meal, a side dish ofmeat, fish or egg, and a side dish of vegetables. A Vietnamese healthy plate wascreated to show the appropriate amount.
 The KAP model (knowledge, attitude, practice ) was used for the nutrition educationintervention, and instructional plans and materials were developed for nine topics,
including quality and quantity of a meal, quality and quantity of snacks, importance ofbreakfast, exercise and hand washing.
⇒Results are being analyzed by Vietnamese and Japanese experts.
[Future Plan]
 Prof. Murayama of UNP established a working group (WG) of young nutrition experts
from Japan (UNP) and Vietnam (MOET/VNIES/MOH/NIN).
 The WG will create nutrition teaching materials for teachers and schoolchildren.
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19Ref) Prof. Murayama, Program No. SY(T9)7-422nd IUNS INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION IN TOKYO, JAPAN Dec 6-11, 2022

Comparison of nutrition education in Japan-Vietnam primary schools
Teacher

Nutrition Education

School LunchVietnam(SchoolNutritionProject)

1. Physicalteacher
2. Classroomteacher
3. Other teachers
4. Dietitian ???

 Incorporate into part of the physicaleducation class/curriculum Integrate of Japanese-style teachingmaterials

 Schools having kitchens: 30% of total
 Schools using catering services: ～70%of total?

JapanNutrition Teacher(Dietitians) Nutrition teachers collaborate withother classes and get/use part of theclass time Teaching methods and teachingmaterials depend on the nutrition
teachers following the guides oflearning goals set by City EducationCommittee.
 ”Shokuiku”: school lunch + nutrition
education combined) Schools having kitchens/using School
Lunch Delivering Facilities: almost
100% of total

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VINEP phase IV (2022-2025) Project Plan
Main Items
1

School nutrition –School Nutrition Project2

Clinical nutrition –Establish Nutrition Support Team (NST)

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Hospital Dietitians in Vietnam
 In 2020, the Minister of Health issued a circular stating that “by 2025, there should be
one dietitian or nutritionist for every 100 hospital beds.” (totally 2,500 professionals
required in Vietnam)
 Total Dietitians: 500 / Total Hospital Dietitians: 50 (estimated, 2022)
 Low number/status of dietitians
 Little experience in hospitals
 Low support environment (guidelines and plan for dietitian activities in hospital...)One of the activities to promote theplacement of Hospital Dietitians:
Building a Nutrition Support Team (NST)
Model at a Hospital
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Establish Nutrition Support Team (NST)Internship program in the field of clinical nutrition at Kyoto University Hospital (2017)
Vietnamese dietitians/medical staff are learning from Japanese dietitians at Kyoto University
Hospital (KUHP)/Kyoto Women’s University (KWU)/Kanazawa Gakuin Univ. as interns.
*NCGM, Projects of Global Extension of Medical Technologies (2015, 2017)

KUHP
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KUHP

KWU
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Establish Nutrition Support Team (NST)
Visit to E Hospital, Hanoi (27Feb to 3Mar, 2023) The medical staff (nutrition doctor) who has been trained at Kyoto University
Hospital (KUHP) is involved in the establishment of E Hospital's NST.
 Professor Shide of KUHP would support the establishment of its NST.

27/6/2023↑Prof. Shide, KUHP (Left), Dr. Nguyen CongHuu, Director of E Hospital (Right)

The dietitians expressed theirenthusiasm for the NST 24project.

Conclusion

 VINEP will continue to promote the placement of dietitians in hospitals andnutrition education staff in schools in Vietnam.
 Regarding the nutrition system, Vietnam will learn from Japan. However, theenvironment in Vietnam is different from that in Japan. Vietnam needs to establish
its own nutrition system, and the Japan will fully support it.

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Japan-Vietnam 50th Anniversary VINEP Workshop
1. Purpose The history of VINEP, current VINEP activities (clinical and school nutrition), the status of Vietnam,and Japanese systems will be presented, shared and discussed by Japanese-Vietnamese experts.
 Participants (Vietnamese government, hospitals, university professors…) can understand theimportance of VINEP activities to make it easier for them to be reflected in Vietnamese policies.
2. Date1) October 18th, 2023 (VINEP review & Clinical nutrition)2) October 20th, 2023 (School nutrition)
3. Platform: Hybrid (Onsite / Zoom)Details of the workshop will be published on
the website of The Ajinomoto Foundation.
www.theajinomotofoundation.org
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Thank you for your attention!

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