Health Department: Victims of Little Aresha Daycare Suffer Growth Disorders

The Yogyakarta City Health Department (Dinkes), in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), has disclosed the results of assessments on several children who were victims at the Little Aresha Jogja daycare. The findings indicate that a dozen children show symptoms of malnutrition and growth and development disorders. Head of the Yogyakarta City Health Department, Emma Rahmi Aryani, stated that examinations were not limited to victims recorded in police reports. Checks were also conducted on all children whose families complained to the special team of the Yogyakarta City Government handling this case. “Yesterday, because the complaint service was opened, it was also open for alumni [of the daycare] to be examined yesterday,” Emma said when contacted by reporters on Monday (4/5). “Actually, there were 149 [registered children] yesterday, but only 131 were examined. But for nutrition, it’s 125 if I’m not mistaken, because some were delayed waiting or something, they haven’t been examined by the psychologist yet,” she added. From the hundreds of children assessed, Emma explained that a dozen among them were indicated to have malnutrition, and another dozen have developmental disorders. The developmental disorders experienced include indications of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to delayed speech development (speech delay). “Yesterday, there were 17 [children] with nutrition problems, and 13 with developmental [disorders]. The developmental [disorders] include hyperactivity and autism. That’s just a preliminary diagnosis; they need to be examined again later,” she revealed. “It’s a tendency towards that, so yesterday it wasn’t definitively diagnosed, just preliminary. There are three (children) with speech delay, and some with hyperactivity, ADHD— the term is ADHD,” Emma continued. Emma explained that children indicated to have malnutrition will be followed up and assisted by the nearest community health centre (puskesmas) with Supplementary Feeding (PMT). She noted that puskesmas have teams consisting of doctors, midwives, nutritionists, and psychologists. Meanwhile, children indicated to have developmental disorders will undergo further examinations. The results will serve as a reference for subsequent therapy. “For those with growth [issues], if it’s still possible, they will be followed up by the puskesmas psychologist. Yesterday, it was the puskesmas psychologist who examined them. If referral is needed, then we will refer them,” Emma said. According to Emma, the healing process for children with developmental disorders requires a considerable amount of time. Each child also needs different durations while their development is continuously monitored. “The psychologist can then plan the therapy, whether the therapy will be how, it will take at least six months, then we evaluate again. It varies, depending on the severity of their developmental disorder,” she stated. “From the 13 (children), some might have mild cases, so the therapy might not take long, three months could be enough. So from the 13, they still need to be examined in detail because yesterday it was just at the technical implementation unit,” she added. This case of child abuse and neglect came to light after police raided the Little Aresha Daycare in Sorosutan, Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta City last month. The raid was related to reports of assaults on several underage children. During the raid, officers found the children entrusted by their parents to the daycare bound by hands and feet, and unclothed—only in nappies. To date, police have named 13 suspects in this case. The suspects are DK (51), AP (42), FN (30), NF (26), Lis (34), EN (26), SRm (54), DR (32), HP (47), ZA (30), SRj (50), DO (31), and DM (28). DK is the foundation chair and owner of the daycare, AP is the school principal, while the other eleven acted as child caregivers at the daycare.