Edema in West Sumatra

Edema in West Sumatra

From Neraca

A few days ago I felt greatly concerned after reading a report in this newspaper about hundreds of under-five-year-old children in West Sumatra being threatened with starvation-caused edema.

It really saddened me to read this report because it also disclosed that in the eyes of the New Order administration, West Sumatra was considered successful in developing its agricultural sector, becoming one of the largest rice-producing provinces in the country. Therefore, it does not stand to reason that some 23,000 infants in this province are likely to suffer from starvation-caused edema. Even local people find it very hard to believe such a report or accept the truth that there are thousands of infants in West Sumatra, a beautiful province which supplies rice to Riau and Jambi provinces, facing edema. It is even more saddening to learn that at least 20 of these infants have died and that 147 others are being treated in the hospital.

The fact that West Sumatra has the second most cases of starvation-caused edema in the country is shocking to many people. This shock is understandable because government officials have always disseminated information about the success of this province, as evidenced by the many citations awarded by the central government to the province. So, when the truth can no longer be covered up, many in the community find it hard to believe that there are such a large number of serious cases of starvation in West Sumatra, despite the financial aid and food aid given to the province by the central government.

Allow me, therefore, to request that all who love Minang Land, especially those who are well-off, actively help overcome this problem of starvation-caused edema. Who else but we can lend a helping hand?

RIZAL UMAR

Jakarta