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.