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.