More infants severely malnourished
More infants severely malnourished
SEMARANG (JP): At least 190 infants in Purbalingga regency,
Central Java are suffering the effects of severe malnutrition, a
legislator said on Friday.
The chairman of Commission E for Welfare at the Central Java
legislature, Soebowo, said increasing numbers of infants in the
province were undernourished. They were located in the regencies
of Wonogiri, Grobogan, the southern part of Central Java and
regencies in the north coast area including Brebes, Pekalongan,
Tegal, Pemalang, Demak, Pati, Rembang and Blora.
"I believe the number of malnourished babies in the province
is in its thousands," Soebowo said.
"Why haven't the officials, especially those at the health
office, done something to help those children? They're suffering;
some that died were just skin and bone."
No further details concerning the deaths were released, but
Soebowo urged all agencies involved to directly inspect their
areas and pay serious attention to the problem.
"It would be better if the social safety net funds, the
government funds for poorly developed villages and other forms of
donation were reallocated to help these babies."
"Do not cover up the real facts (concerning the situation of)
malnourished children and please move quickly to handle the
issue. This should not have happened in our country."
In Bengkulu, the capital city of Bengkulu, South Sumatra
Antara recently reported that five female infants were so
severely malnourished their weight was only 40 percent of normal
weight. One of the babies died recently, according to Dr.
Ghuffron from M. Yunus Hospital.
In Tangerang, East Java, at least one infant has died of
marasmus kwashiorkor -- a condition of chronic undernourishment
usually caused by a diet deficient in calories and proteins.
Seven others are suffering the effects of malnutrition and were
receiving treatment at the Tangerang General Hospital as of
Tuesday.
One of the seven is the brother of the dead infant.
The Kompas daily reported recently that there were at least 50
infants in Tangerang suffering from marasmus.
The daily also reported Thursday that at least 27,300 babies
under the age of two years in Cirebon regency, East Java, were
suffering from malnutrition.
Out of the total number, eight babies were declared to have
the condition marasmus as they have lost 40 percent of their
normal body weight.
Six of the babies were being treated in their own houses while
two others were in a critical condition and were being treated at
the Arjawinangun Hospital in Cirebon.
Cirebon's health office has distributed extra food for the
babies and pregnant women in the area. Each baby was to receive
an allowance of Rp 750 per day.
"That is the budget set for this program... and it surely
doesn't meet their daily needs as the price of food is
escalating," the agency's chief, Prihadi, said. (har/edt)