Malnutrition strikes C. Sulawesi infants

Malnutrition strikes C. Sulawesi infants

PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): About 70,000 under-fives are
suffering from malnutrition in the province.

"Tens of thousands of Central Sulawesi toddlers are
susceptible to malnutrition due to their substandard nutritional
intake," Antara quoted secretary of the National Movement for
Food and Nutrition, Mularso, as saying here on Sunday.

Mularso said the community's weakened purchasing power was the
cause of the inadequate nutritional consumption.

He also noted that the worst cases of malnutrition were found
in infants living in remote areas which were difficult for
medical personnel to reach.

"The Ministry of Health has allocated Rp 5.24 billion for
Central Sulawesi to overcome the food and nutrition problems,"
Mularso said in explaining the steps taken to anticipate the
worsening situation.

He said Rp 3.69 billion would be allocated to provide better
nutrition, with the remainder to be used to refurbish community
health posts, he stated. (05)