At least 36 children die of malnutrition in Central Java<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): At least 36 children under five years of age in
\nCentral Java have died of malnutrition since September last year,
\nan official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
A further 1,900 others were being treated at local hospitals
\nfor malnutrition, head of the provincial health office Soejono
\ntold Antara.<\/p>\n
He said malnutrition had been observed in all 35 regencies and
\nmayoralties of the province. "We are monitoring the health
\ndevelopment of children across the province, so that any
\nindications of poor nutrition can be detected," Soejono said.<\/p>\n
He said his office would step up programs to provide extra
\nfood assistance for malnourished children of poor families.<\/p>\n
In Grobogan village alone, some 45 kilometers east of here,
\nseven infants have died of kwashiorkor marasmus (severe
\nmalnutrition caused by a diet high in carbohydrate and low in
\nprotein) since January, head of the regency health office
\nSubandijo told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said had the children received immediate medical
\nassistance, they would have survived. Some 24 other children are
\nreceiving free treatment at local health community centers or the
\nstate hospital.<\/p>\n
Subandijo said malnourished children were found in 16 out of
\n19 districts in the regency. He blamed the unabated economic
\ncrisis for the high incidence of malnutrition.<\/p>\n
"I believe there are many more children suffering from
\nkwashiorkor, because our team has not yet finished its data
\ncollection job."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Dili, East Timor, head representative of the
\nUnited Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) for Indonesia and
\nMalaysia, Stephen J. Woodhouse, promised the body would use its
\ngood reputation and neutrality to carry out a children's
\nimmunization program in troubled Aceh.<\/p>\n
Woodhouse told Antara on Monday: "We will use the good
\nreputation and neutrality of the UNICEF to do the same work in
\nAceh as we are doing in East Timor. It is a possibility."<\/p>\n
He made the statement in response to a question on whether
\nUnicef's six-month program aimed at immunizing children and
\nensuring the health of pregnant women, which started here on
\nMonday, could also be implemented in Aceh, where clashes have
\nbeen occurring between security forces and separatist groups.<\/p>\n
He said he would first study the situation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"This program cannot be immediately implemented (in Aceh).
\nMany preparations should be made first, and many discussions with
\na variety of parties should be held first."<\/p>\n
Responding to comments made by pregnant women in East Timor
\nthat the program was similar to one implemented by public health
\ncenters in the province, Woodhouse acknowledged that the program
\nwas "ordinary".<\/p>\n
"It is true that the program is ordinary. However, during the
\npast few months in East Timor, the health coverage has seemed to
\ndecrease. There must be reasons (for this). I am sure that this
\ndrive would increase the health coverage in East Timor."<\/p>\n
He also expressed optimism on the program's success, with the
\ncooperation of the Ministry of Health and the support of all
\nparties in East Timor, including the territory's warring
\nfactions. (har\/dwi)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/at-least-36-children-die-of-malnutrition-in-central-java-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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