Family hit by poverty, child dies from malnutrition<\/p>\n
Jemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
Deby Henukh, 13, a junior high school student, finally died on
\nMonday night due to malnutrition. She succumbed to the ailment
\nafter receiving intensive treatment for a month at the WZ Yohanis
\nHospital in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
When she drew her last breath, she was extremely emaciated.<\/p>\n
Deby's death shocked her parents Hendrik Henukh, 60 and Tamar
\nHenukh, 57. Both of them, residents of Oeluan in Rote Ndao
\nregency, appeared weak. Their faces went pale when they saw that
\ntheir beloved daughter, the youngest of eight children, had
\npassed away.<\/p>\n
Deby's death was directly related to the poverty that has
\nafflicted Henukh family for years. Nearly every day, the poor
\nfarmer family ate only corn and rice as they could not afford to
\npay for other foods such as milk, vegetables, meat, eggs or fish.
\nThe family only earned about Rp 200,000 (US$21) a month.<\/p>\n
According to latest data from the East Nusa Tenggara
\nprovincial administration, 141 people are now suffering from
\nmalnutrition in the province, with 135 people suffering from
\nmarasmus (a lack of carbohydrate), five kwashiorkor (a lack of
\nprotein) and another is suffering from both marasmus and
\nkwashiorkor.<\/p>\n
The death of Deby has brought the number of people who have
\ndied from malnutrition recently to eight, most of them infants.<\/p>\n
In order to address the widespread problem, the East Nusa
\nTenggara provincial government has distributed cash to 16
\nmunicipalities and regencies in the province, each receiving Rp
\n30 million (US$3,140).<\/p>\n
The malnutrition case made national headlines when it was
\nfirst reported in West Nusa Tenggara recently, where 10 had
\nreportedly died since early this year. Other cases were later
\ndiscovered in other regions, sparking concern among the public.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/family-hit-by-poverty-child-dies-from-malnutrition-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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