More infants in Tangerang undernourished

TANGERANG (JP): At least one infant has died of marasmus in Tangerang while seven others are suffering the effects of malnutrition and are receiving treatment at the Tangerang General Hospital.

One of the seven severely malnourished babies receiving treatment is the brother of the dead infant.

According to their father, Suhadi, 42, a scavenger, escalating food prices had enabled him to feed his two boys, the diseased Ubay, 4, and Achmad Jaya, 2, plain rice with salt or ketchup only.

Suhadi, from Gelebek village in Rajeg district, said Monday he had not received any funds from local authorities, who last month were allocated monies from a Rp 1.29 billion central government fund which guaranteed community health.

His wife Maemunah, 33, added: "How could we afford to buy fish or eggs for our children if my husband can only earn Rp 5,000 per day?"

In Tangerang, located in the outskirts of Jakarta, eggs are sold at Rp 800 each while rice is currently Rp 2,000 per kilogram.

The prolonged economic crisis has also begun to kill the innocent infants of poor parents in several areas of Bogor, a district south of the capital.

In the Mulyaharja village of Bogor, at least four babies aged between four months and three years reportedly died of marasmus between August and January.

Five other local babies were under medical supervision in community health centers.

Local Tangerang residents and officials blamed village heads, district heads and health officials for a lack of sensitivity in regard to the escalating number of babies suffering undernourishment in the area.

Acting secretary of Tangerang regency, Utar Sutarya, said that Regent Agus Djunara had already ordered officials to be more attentive to social problems, including health issues, caused by the crippling economic crisis.

"They have to have courage to directly inspect their areas to locate people suffering from malnutrition and food scarcity.

We must not only react after receiving reports," he warned.

According to Utar, Rp 1.2 trillion has been disbursed to 32 community health centers throughout the regency, since the beginning of last month.

He said local authorities would conduct an advocacy program concerning food scarcity and malnutrition in all villages for six days starting March 1 to anticipate the chronic undernourishment problem. (41/ivy)