Party launches campaign against poverty, malnutrition

Party launches campaign against poverty, malnutrition

Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's daughter Zannuba
Arifah Chafsoh reads out a statement to mark the
declaration of an Anti-Poverty Movement and the establishment of
Task Force Against Malnutrition in a ceremony held at Donohudan
Haj Dormitory, Surakarta, Central Java.

The national movement was officially launched on Sunday by the
National Awakening Party (PKB), in which Chafsoh -- better known
as Yenni, serves as a deputy secretary general.

Yenni said the task force, which she herself leads, will
prepare thousands of volunteers to help malnourished children
across the country.

"PKB executives at the regency level will be tasked with
collecting data on the number of malnutrition cases from villages
in their regions. We will issue an official decree requiring them
to carry out this humanitarian mission," she said.

She said the task force will try to advocate for victims of
malnutrition scattered around the country, while the PKB central
board will open a special center to raise donations for them.

"Apart from legislative channels, the party's central board
will seek alternative funds for the victims because they badly
need immediate handling," she added.

Yenni blamed the increase in malnutrition cases on the slow
response by the central government, particularly the health and
social affairs ministries.

Ineffective efforts by local administrations in tackling the
problem was also to blame, she added.

Through the movement, Yenni said, the PKB will also demand
that the government enact a policy aimed at pushing for the
fortification of certain processed foodstuffs.

"The government must control the standards of protein and
vitamins in processed foods, so it is healthy for public
consumption," she said, adding that the party will forge an
alliance with flour producers such as PT Bogasari. --JP/Blontank
Poer