New minister to fight malnutrition

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)