Malnutrition in S. Kalimantan

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Twenty-six undernourished babies in South Kalimantan have died this year and 59 others are currently receiving treatment, Antara reported on Saturday.

South Kalimantan administration spokesman Kamarul Hidayat said there were also at least 4,482 children under the age of five who needed immediate care for undernourishment.

He said that since February, 72 incidents of malnutrition were found in the provincial capital of Banjarmasin.

Kamarul also said that of 15 cases of malnutrition reported in June, eight were treated at the hospital while the rest were treated in their homes.

He said the administration was distributing food packages containing rice, instant noodles, eggs and powdered milk to help fight malnutrition.

On Monday, Antara reported from Riau's provincial capital of Pekanbaru that Rp 17 billion would be allocated by the central government to help fight undernourishment among infants in the province.

According to administration data, there are some 27,400 malnourished children under the age of five in Riau.

Administration secretary Tengku Lukman Jaafar said this figure could rise due to more intensive monitoring being carried out in cooperation with non-governmental organizations.(edt)