Malnutrition rampant in East Kalimantan

Rusman and Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda/Surakarta

Although East Kalimantan is popularly known as natural resource- rich province, malnutrition is still rampant in the area. Government data reveals that 174 infants, out of total 360,298 infants in the province, are currently suffering from malnutrition.

Most of families whose infants are suffering from malnutrition are poor, according to chief of East Kalimantan's provincial health office Andi Madjid on Thursday.

In order to address the problem, the provincial government was planning to reactivate neighborhood health service posts, said Andi.

Through the posts, the government would also distribute supplementary meals to poor families.

The government will also intensify surveillance of children or infants at risk from malnutrition, and once identified, they will then be taken to hospitals for intensive treatment.

The government will pay all hospital fees, said Andi.

"Some poor families are unable to provide nutritious food for their children, while others can afford the food, but they don't understand the importance of giving nutritious food to children," said Andi.

Meanwhile, infants suffering from malnutrition have also found in Sragen, Central Java. Nova Maulana (2), has been admitted to the Sragen Hospital were he is being fed intravenously. His legs are thin, and his stomach bloated. His mouth continuously discharges saliva. His mother, Sulami, 30, cries continuously while sitting next to him.

Widi Atmodjo, the hospital's doctor, said that Nova's health had been improving after being treated at the hospital for three days. He has gained weight during his stay at the hospital, said Widi.