44,000 babies malnourished in C. Java

44,000 babies malnourished in C. Java

SEMARANG: As many as 44,633 babies in Central Java province
are suffering from malnutrition this year, local health office
head Khrisnajaya has said.

Of that number, at least 4,378 babies were very poorly
nourished, he added.

He said the malnourished were among around 290,065 babies in
the province, of which only 239,848 were receiving barely
adequate nutrition and 5,606 others were better nourished.

"Most, or at least 885, of the malnourished babies are in
Blora regency. Other malnutrition cases are recorded in 35 cities
and towns across Central Java," Khrisnajaya told journalists in
the Central Java capital of Semarang over the weekend.

The 35 regions included Grobogan regency (257 malnutrition
cases), Rembang regency (235), Semarang regency (223) and Tegal
regency (205), he added.

Khrisnajaya said the cases were recorded between January and
August this year.

He added the Central Java health office had set up a Food and
Nutrition Alertness Team to handle the malnutrition cases in
coordination with health officials in the regencies.

"At least 10 regencies have now become the target of efforts
to improve the nutrition of children. They are Surakarta, Demak,
Grobogan, Salatiga, Kudus, Kendal, Wonosobo, Brebes, Tegal and
Pemalang," Chrisnajaya added. --JP