New minister to fight malnutrition

JAKARTA (JP): Overcoming widespread malnutrition in the country will be a priority for new Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi.

In a speech after taking over the ministry from Farid Anfasa Moeloek here on Friday, Sujudi stressed the pressing need to address the problem of malnutrition, which last year alone effected some seven million children.

"Getting additional food to malnourished infants across the country is an urgent matter, and after that introducing the importance of proper nutrition will be the next step," Achmad said after the ceremony.

Achmad also said he would examine and, if needed, redesign the community health services network (JPKM), which he described as a potential backbone for the country's future health services.

The JPKM is a social program which was begun last year with the aim of providing people full access to health services.

Achmad also said he would work to upgrade the quality of the ministry's human resources in order to improve its overall professionalism, efficiency and service.

"Every employee should be intelligently capable, emotionally mature and professional," he said.

Outgoing health minister Moeloek said he would return to his career as a gynecologist and pledged to help the ministry if needed. (04)