18 infants die of malnutrition

TEGAL, Central Java: At least 18 children under five years of age have died of malnutrition in the past five months, Tegal administration spokesman Bambang Setiono said on Tuesday.

The fatalities came from two severely undernourished districts, namely Jatinegara and Surodadi. "The children who died received late treatment. They belonged to poor families who could not afford proper nutrition," Bambang said.

There were seven other children who died in the regency of Brebes, one in Pemalang regency and another in Pekalongan regency, he added. (har/edt)