More infants severely malnourished<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): At least 190 infants in Purbalingga regency,
\nCentral Java are suffering the effects of severe malnutrition, a
\nlegislator said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of Commission E for Welfare at the Central Java
\nlegislature, Soebowo, said increasing numbers of infants in the
\nprovince were undernourished. They were located in the regencies
\nof Wonogiri, Grobogan, the southern part of Central Java and
\nregencies in the north coast area including Brebes, Pekalongan,
\nTegal, Pemalang, Demak, Pati, Rembang and Blora.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the number of malnourished babies in the province
\nis in its thousands,\" Soebowo said.<\/p>\n
\"Why haven't the officials, especially those at the health
\noffice, done something to help those children? They're suffering;
\nsome that died were just skin and bone.\"<\/p>\n
No further details concerning the deaths were released, but
\nSoebowo urged all agencies involved to directly inspect their
\nareas and pay serious attention to the problem.<\/p>\n
\"It would be better if the social safety net funds, the
\ngovernment funds for poorly developed villages and other forms of
\ndonation were reallocated to help these babies.\"<\/p>\n
\"Do not cover up the real facts (concerning the situation of)
\nmalnourished children and please move quickly to handle the
\nissue. This should not have happened in our country.\"<\/p>\n
In Bengkulu, the capital city of Bengkulu, South Sumatra
\nAntara recently reported that five female infants were so
\nseverely malnourished their weight was only 40 percent of normal
\nweight. One of the babies died recently, according to Dr.
\nGhuffron from M. Yunus Hospital.<\/p>\n
In Tangerang, East Java, at least one infant has died of
\nmarasmus kwashiorkor -- a condition of chronic undernourishment
\nusually caused by a diet deficient in calories and proteins.
\nSeven others are suffering the effects of malnutrition and were
\nreceiving treatment at the Tangerang General Hospital as of
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
One of the seven is the brother of the dead infant.<\/p>\n
The Kompas daily reported recently that there were at least 50
\ninfants in Tangerang suffering from marasmus.<\/p>\n
The daily also reported Thursday that at least 27,300 babies
\nunder the age of two years in Cirebon regency, East Java, were
\nsuffering from malnutrition.<\/p>\n
Out of the total number, eight babies were declared to have
\nthe condition marasmus as they have lost 40 percent of their
\nnormal body weight.<\/p>\n
Six of the babies were being treated in their own houses while
\ntwo others were in a critical condition and were being treated at
\nthe Arjawinangun Hospital in Cirebon.<\/p>\n
Cirebon's health office has distributed extra food for the
\nbabies and pregnant women in the area. Each baby was to receive
\nan allowance of Rp 750 per day.<\/p>\n
\"That is the budget set for this program... and it surely
\ndoesn't meet their daily needs as the price of food is
\nescalating,\" the agency's chief, Prihadi, said. (har\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-infants-severely-malnourished-1447893297",
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