Malnutrition report dampens anniversary

Malnutrition report dampens anniversary

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As Jakarta celebrated its 478th anniversary on Wednesday, the
city administration made public a report of a further 26
malnourished children in the capital.
This brings the number of malnourished children in Jakarta to
39.

Yet, in his anniversary speech, Governor Sutiyoso made no
mention of these child victims of poverty, focusing on the city's
improved security situation, due, he said, to economic growth of
5.24 percent, a low inflation rate of 5.87 percent and "sharp
improvement in the economy".

The announcement was made by Jakarta Health Agency head Abdul
Chalik Masulili on the sidelines of anniversary celebrations,
which featured a laser display and fireworks.

"One child is in an acute condition and the other 38 are
malnourished. Twenty five are in hospital, but we consider the
conditions of the other 14 allows them to be treated at home,"
Masulili said.

The agency earlier said that 8,455 of the total 923,000
children in the city were in desperate need of nutritious food.

"Those undernourished children are at risk of becoming
chronically undernourished," he said.

Reacting to such worrying figures, the administration told
city hospitals on Wednesday to treat children who showed signs of
undernourishment for free.

"I have sent a circular to all hospitals, saying if they treat
such a child the City Health Agency will foot the bill," said
Masulili.

If a patient's bill has already been paid, their family can
apply to the agency for reimbursement, he said.

Musulili provided the agency's hot line -- 34835118 -- which
he said people should ring if they encountered difficulties in
the reimbursement process.

An agency officer confirmed the phone line was in constant
operational readiness.

Masulili said undernutrition in children was the direct result
of poverty.

"That's why we need to boost the welfare of poor people
through poverty-alleviation programs," he added.

The administration has earmarked between Rp 250 million and Rp
700 million for every subdistrict in the capital under
subdistrict community empowerment programs (PPMK).

The programs include the development of infrastructure and the
channeling of low-interest loans to micro-businesses.

Some residents, however, say the programs have missed their
targets.

The city administration also plans to reestablish integrated
health service posts (posyandu) for every community unit in the
city.

"In fact, the posts serve a vital role in preventing such
acute problems. Unfortunately, many become inoperative as the
volunteers, mostly locals, do not receive any remuneration,"
Masulili said, citing his agency was looking into ways to
encourage volunteers.

There are 3,941 posyandu across the capital.

The nation's high incidence of malnutrition hit the headlines
after a report of 40 deaths in West Nusa Tenggara province due to
malnutrition since early this year.