Children die from malnutrition in C. Java

Children die from malnutrition in C. Java

JAKARTA (JP): Four children recently died of malnutrition in Pekalongan regency, Central Java, regent Harsono said.

The deaths prompted the local government to order village officials to improve health services in their respective villages.

"The tragedy would not have happened if officials in charge of food supplies in the subdistricts had worked harder to monitor the supply of food," Harsono was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Regency statistics show 85 children under five years of age are suffering from malnutrition in the regency. Fifty-nine of these children are receiving treatment in the hospital.

The regent blamed the food crisis on the declining production of food and the public's weakened purchasing power, as well as the villagers' lack of knowledge about nutrition.

Harsono also said his administration had not yet intensified its health information campaign.

The regency administration plans to provide 780 kilograms of rice to 23 impoverished families. (pan)