The "Dairy Immunity" program will be implemented in stages, and this year national producers will join forces to provide milk for 189,600 students in grades 1-5 of public schools in the capital. The goal of the program is to support the growth and development of schoolchildren in Ulaanbaatar.
A visit by Ulaanbaatar Mayor Nyambaatar Khishgee and other officials took place at the Harumafudzi dairy farm, where they discussed the details of the milk provision program for schoolchildren. As the mayor noted, such an initiative has existed in Japan since 1959, in the Republic of Korea since 1981, and in China since 2005. In Mongolia, the program has been in operation for two years based at the Harumafudzi school in New Mongolia. Before the program begins, it is planned to study the main health and growth indicators of children, which will allow for improvements to the initiative next year using eco-friendly packaging.
Byambadorj Davaanyam, director of Harumafudzi, shared the results of comparative studies conducted to assess the impact of dairy nutrition on students. He noted that regular consumption of milk helps maintain necessary levels of calcium and vitamin D, and positively affects children's growth. Additionally, a decrease in the incidence of colds and flu among students is noted, which specialists attribute to the program and physical education classes. The milk at the farm undergoes thermal processing, making it safe for children with lactose intolerance.
Batttör Lkhagvaa, director of the National Center for Public Health, reported that a national nutrition study is conducted every five years. According to the latest 2023 study, only 15% of children reached sufficient levels of vitamin D, while the rest are observed to have a deficiency. This is related not only to the harsh climatic conditions of Mongolia but also to a lack of vitamin D in food. In many cold climate countries, milk is additionally fortified with vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. The initial health indicators of students will be assessed, and after a certain period following the implementation of the program, a new study will be conducted to analyze its effectiveness.
In the 2026-2027 academic year, the program is planned to be expanded to include 430,000 students in grades 1-12 of public schools in Ulaanbaatar.
