More infants in Tangerang undernourished

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)