At least 36 children die of malnutrition in Central Java

SEMARANG (JP): At least 36 children under five years of age in Central Java have died of malnutrition since September last year, an official said on Monday.

A further 1,900 others were being treated at local hospitals for malnutrition, head of the provincial health office Soejono told Antara.

He said malnutrition had been observed in all 35 regencies and mayoralties of the province. "We are monitoring the health development of children across the province, so that any indications of poor nutrition can be detected," Soejono said.

He said his office would step up programs to provide extra food assistance for malnourished children of poor families.

In Grobogan village alone, some 45 kilometers east of here, seven infants have died of kwashiorkor marasmus (severe malnutrition caused by a diet high in carbohydrate and low in protein) since January, head of the regency health office Subandijo told The Jakarta Post.

He said had the children received immediate medical assistance, they would have survived. Some 24 other children are receiving free treatment at local health community centers or the state hospital.

Subandijo said malnourished children were found in 16 out of 19 districts in the regency. He blamed the unabated economic crisis for the high incidence of malnutrition.

"I believe there are many more children suffering from kwashiorkor, because our team has not yet finished its data collection job."

Meanwhile, in Dili, East Timor, head representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) for Indonesia and Malaysia, Stephen J. Woodhouse, promised the body would use its good reputation and neutrality to carry out a children's immunization program in troubled Aceh.

Woodhouse told Antara on Monday: "We will use the good reputation and neutrality of the UNICEF to do the same work in Aceh as we are doing in East Timor. It is a possibility."

He made the statement in response to a question on whether Unicef's six-month program aimed at immunizing children and ensuring the health of pregnant women, which started here on Monday, could also be implemented in Aceh, where clashes have been occurring between security forces and separatist groups.

He said he would first study the situation in Aceh.

"This program cannot be immediately implemented (in Aceh). Many preparations should be made first, and many discussions with a variety of parties should be held first."

Responding to comments made by pregnant women in East Timor that the program was similar to one implemented by public health centers in the province, Woodhouse acknowledged that the program was "ordinary".

"It is true that the program is ordinary. However, during the past few months in East Timor, the health coverage has seemed to decrease. There must be reasons (for this). I am sure that this drive would increase the health coverage in East Timor."

He also expressed optimism on the program's success, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and the support of all parties in East Timor, including the territory's warring factions. (har/dwi)