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)