11 million C. Java kids malnourished

SEMARANG: About 11 million children, mostly under-fives, are suffering from malnutrition in Central Java, provincial legislator Abdul Kadir Karding said on Tuesday.

"You can find malnourished children in almost all the regencies here such as Cilacap, Demak, Grobogan, Wonogiri, Tegal, Pemalang, Pekalongan and Blora," Abdul said.

"We have to admit that our province has been hit by cases of severe malnutrition. So far the funds to handle the problem is taken from provincial and regency budget ... but we need more to help these children."

The council has urged Governor Mardiyanto to take serious measures to care for the children and check the spread of various contagious diseases resulting from the children's poor health. (har/edt)