Abbott Improves Clinical Nutrition in China and Vietnam
The Abbott Fund has trained over 6,500 healthcare professionals in China and Vietnam to enhance patient nutritional care.
Hospitals in China and Vietnam are advancing clinical nutritional care through a training program for healthcare professionals supported by the Abbott Fund. This initiative, known as the Abbott Fund Institute for Nutrition Science (AFINS), has trained over 6,500 professionals since its inception.
The program involves partnerships with local hospitals and universities. In China, collaborators include the Shanghai Children's Medical Center and the nonprofit organization Project HOPE. In Vietnam, AFINS was established in conjunction with Boston University School of Medicine, Bach Mai Hospital, the National Institute of Nutrition, and Hanoi Medical University.
Results from the AFINS program have shown significant improvements. For instance, the risk of malnutrition for children admitted to Shanghai Children's Medical Center decreased by over 80 percent. Complications related to nutritional support therapy fell from 5 percent to 1 percent. At Bach Mai Hospital, the risk of malnutrition dropped by almost 30 percent.
The program focuses on providing in-depth training for staff on integrating nutrition into treatment approaches, expanding nutrition education opportunities, and conducting and sharing research on best practices. Local government and hospital leaders in both countries have embraced AFINS, ensuring the long-term sustainability of efforts to strengthen hospital nutrition and provide better patient care.