24 babies died of malnutrition

24 babies died of malnutrition

SEMARANG: 24 babies under the age of five have died of
malnutrition in the first eight months of this year, while 441
others have been hospitalized for the same reason, said head of
the Health Agency of Purbalingga regency Diyah Retnani Basuki.

She said malnutrition was rampant in the regency, especially
in the Rembang, Karangmoncol, Karangtengah and Kutawala districts
with mortality rates highest in impoverished villages.

"Malnutrition is due to the people's inability to fulfill
their basic nutritional needs. These babies can be discharged
from hospital but their problems will resume once they return to
their poor homes," she said.

The regency administration has distributed aid, allocated in
the state and city budget, and also from private companies, to
alleviate malnutrition. The aid was channeled directly to the
babies, along with the initial working capital for poor parents
to start their own businesses to improve their welfare. (har/lup)