Family hit by poverty, child dies from malnutrition

Family hit by poverty, child dies from malnutrition

Jemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Deby Henukh, 13, a junior high school student, finally died on
Monday night due to malnutrition. She succumbed to the ailment
after receiving intensive treatment for a month at the WZ Yohanis
Hospital in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

When she drew her last breath, she was extremely emaciated.

Deby's death shocked her parents Hendrik Henukh, 60 and Tamar
Henukh, 57. Both of them, residents of Oeluan in Rote Ndao
regency, appeared weak. Their faces went pale when they saw that
their beloved daughter, the youngest of eight children, had
passed away.

Deby's death was directly related to the poverty that has
afflicted Henukh family for years. Nearly every day, the poor
farmer family ate only corn and rice as they could not afford to
pay for other foods such as milk, vegetables, meat, eggs or fish.
The family only earned about Rp 200,000 (US$21) a month.

According to latest data from the East Nusa Tenggara
provincial administration, 141 people are now suffering from
malnutrition in the province, with 135 people suffering from
marasmus (a lack of carbohydrate), five kwashiorkor (a lack of
protein) and another is suffering from both marasmus and
kwashiorkor.

The death of Deby has brought the number of people who have
died from malnutrition recently to eight, most of them infants.

In order to address the widespread problem, the East Nusa
Tenggara provincial government has distributed cash to 16
municipalities and regencies in the province, each receiving Rp
30 million (US$3,140).

The malnutrition case made national headlines when it was
first reported in West Nusa Tenggara recently, where 10 had
reportedly died since early this year. Other cases were later
discovered in other regions, sparking concern among the public.