At least 36 children die of malnutrition in Central Java

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)