Malnourished infants need help

BOGOR (JP): Mayor R. Iswara Natanegara ordered all of the town's six district chiefs and 68 village heads on Wednesday to collect donations from businesspeople and high-ranking officials in their respective areas to help the 2,224 malnourished infants in the mayoralty.

According to the mayor, the ailing infants desperately need food supplies for three consecutive months which would cost Rp 100,000 (US$14.30) per infant, or a total of Rp 222.4 million.

"The city budget to handle the case is so limited, so all of you are expected to take immediate steps to mobilize all potentials in your respective areas," Iswara told his senior administration staff at a meeting on Wednesday.

He gave no details.

In official terminology in Indonesia, "mobilizing all potentials" generally means to ask for financial back-up from local businesspeople, entertainment spot owners and noted figures.

Previously, Iswara told his low-echelon staff to help the malnourished infants using whatever means they had.

"If you're still unable to do it yourself, then do it together with your other colleagues.

"An infant, for example, could be jointly financed by three officials, meaning that each official would only have to spend Rp 12,000 per month for a malnourished infant," the mayor said.

He also suggested that local businesspeople and noted figures become foster parents to the infants. (24/bsr)