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)