NTT plagued with malnutrition

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The malnutrition problem in West and East Nusa Tenggara that has been widely reported in the media recently is comparable to Pandora's Box. When the story was reported, it was quickly followed by similar revelations in other areas nationwide.

As the stories made national headlines, the government and the public were surprised that there was still malnutrition in the country in spite of its rich natural resources.

A scholar in East Nusa Tenggara said that malnutrition had been a perennial problem in the province. "Malnutrition is actually not new to East Nusa Tenggara. It has been problem here for years, but it was just revealed," said sociologist Syarifuddin R. Gomang from Cendana University, Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara.

Malnutrition in East Nusa Tenggara has killed 35 infants up until July 12. Frequent food scarcity has been blamed for the widespread malnutrition in the province. Syarifuddin said this was due to the arid land and the simple agricultural system. On top of that, the food shortage was also caused by locust attacks and the prolonged dry season.

Syarifuddin recalled that when he was child in the 1970s, he often ate the seeds of the tamarind tree, which was mixed with a staple food such as corn. The tamarind seed was soaked in water so that it became soft and it was cooked. "It was common for East Nusa Tenggara residents to eat the tamarind seed or the papaya trunk in times of scarcity before the harvest," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The climate and arid land is not the only factor that contributed into the rampant malnutrition in the province.

According to Syarifuddin, the malnutrition also stems from the poor upbringing of children. Infants or small children in East Nusa Tenggara are often taken care of by their older brothers and sisters when their parents go to work on the farm. The brothers and sisters lack understanding of how to provide nutritious food for their little sisters and brothers.

"Worse, when the parents return home, they rarely ask whether the children have already had breakfast or lunch," said Mario Vieira from NTT Child Protection Institute, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Kupang.

The lack of parental awareness could be found in a refugee camp for former East Timorese refugee in Noelbaki, Kupang.

"A female child, nine months old whose family lived in the refugee camp, should have been treated for at least 60 days at a local hospital, but the mother insisted on bringing her home after she was treated for two days only at the hospital," said Mario, as quoted by Antara.

According to Syarifuddin, in order to address the malnutrition and famine problem, people in East Nusa Tenggara province have to start change their dependency on certain agricultural products. They have to begin diversifying food, by consuming food taken from the sea.

The government has started to encourage people to diversify food through Entering the Sea Movement, which began in 2002. "But, it takes time," said East Nusa Tenggara deputy governor Frans Lebu Raya.

The government has trained and assisted residents to grow seaweed, said Frans.

Frans believes that through such a program, the famine and malnutrition that had plagued East Nusa Tenggara for years could be slowly eradicated. "If the famine problem is not addressed properly, we will lose a generation of children," said Frans.