Food poisoned children still in critical condition

JAKARTA (JP): Two of the three victims of food poisoning in Lampung, who have been brought here for treatment, are still in a critical condition at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

Poernomo and Fitriani are on respirators and intravenous drips.

But 12-year-old Susmiati had improved significantly, an on- duty doctor said yesterday.

They are among the 192 pupils of Sabuk Indah primary school who got sick last Friday after eating mung bean porridge which was supplied by parents.

Two pupils, Darus Dewantara, 13, and Surianto, 8, died last Monday.

The school, which has 220 pupils, is in the Abung Barat district of Kotabumi, North Lampung.

Poernomo, Fitriani, and Susmiati were brought to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital early Thursday after failing to recover at the Abdul Muluk Hospital in Bandarlampung.

The porridge was served as part of a supplementary food program.

The state Sabuk Indah school was included in the national food supplement program in July last year. The program aims to give nutritious food to children in poor areas. The food is given to pupils three times a week. The meals, which cost Rp 350 (US15 cents) each, are paid for by Presidential funds.

The doctor said that Poernomo's condition had improved little since last Thursday and that he did not know how long Poernomo would have to rely on the respirator.

He said that vomit in the lungs was causing Poernomo's respiratory problems.

The children's fathers, Jumadi, Katijo and Tugiran, said they hoped their children would recover quickly and that the government would pay all medical fees.

"We have nothing with which to pay all the fees," they said. The fathers work as farm laborers on other people's land.

They have kept a vigil over their children in Jakarta since Thursday. They said accommodation and transportation had not been a problem.

Suprianto, an official at the Lampung administration dormitory in West Jakarta said, "The Lampung provincial administration has taken responsibility for their accommodation and transportation."

The parents are staying at the dormitory on Jl. Wijaya Kusuma 54, Tomang.

President Soeharto has expressed concern over the poisoning and told parents to be extra careful when supplying food under the program.

Minister of Home Affairs Yogie S.M. has said the supplementary food program helps feed seven million children. (11)