12,000 children malnourished

SEMARANG: As of October this year nearly 12,000 children in Central Java are malnourished and 56 of them have died, an activist said on Monday.

Head of the Central Java Children's Protection Institute, Siti Aminah, said malnutrition has affected 37 regencies, with Grobogan, Rembang, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri and Tegal the hardest-hit areas.

Aminah suggested that the local government increase the budget to improve children's nutritional intakes and enhance health services for those who are already suffering from malnutrition. (har/lup)