Infants suffer in Banyumas

Infants suffer in Banyumas

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Nutritional deficiencies during
pregnancy are jeopardizing the lives of newborns, the head of the
Banyumas regency's health office said here on Wednesday.

M. Iskandar Arifin told The Jakarta Post there were 300 infant
mortalities in the first eight months of this year, compared to
467 throughout 1997.

"The mortality rate has sharply increased due to the increase
in the number of newborns with below average weight," Iskandar
said. He attributed the problems to poor nutrition of pregnant
women.

Iskandar said the problem was understandable because many
members of the public could not afford food commodities which had
soared in price in recent months.

The maternal mortality rate is also increasing. Iskandar said
it reached 24 in August, nearing 1997's total of 27 death.

He said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would grant Rp 3.4
billion in November to support a supplemental nutrition program
for pregnant women and schoolchildren. (45)