Children's growth stunted

Children's growth stunted

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Poor nutrition has stunted the growth of as many as 36 percent of all first-grade primary school children here, Antara reported on Monday.

Arvin Dyanto, the head of the nutrition department of the local office of the Ministry of Health, said low consumption of protein and other nutrients caused many children in the province to be below the normal height for their age.

"The situation here is worse than the national average," Arvin said. "This certainly affects the whole human resource development," he added.

The average height of six-year-old Indonesian children is 110 centimeters.

About 30.7 percent of all Indonesian school-age boys and 29.6 percent of all girls have growth problems, Arvin said. "This situation should be dealt with soon, and that's why the ministry should promote public education -- especially for mothers -- on nutrition," he added. (swe)