59 babies die of malnutrition

59 babies die of malnutrition

SEMARANG: At least 59 babies under five years of age have died
from malnutrition and more than 3,500 others had fought
starvation over the past 12 months in Central Java, an official
said on Wednesday.

The head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Health,
Soejono, said 1,026 surviving infants had been given special
nutrition treatment to improve their physical condition.

Soejono said Blora is the regency hardest hit by malnutrition
with 338 recorded cases.

Local government officials have begun distributing donations
and free nutritional supplements to needy children. (har/edt)