Thousands feared malnourished

Thousands feared malnourished

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Thousands of children across
Southeast Sulawesi are believed to be suffering from
malnutrition, the result of poverty and a lack of nutritional
knowledge on the part of parents.

Andi Norma, an adviser to the provincial Civil Servants' Wives
Association, said on Tuesday the provincial administration should
revive a supplemental food program for students in order to fight
malnutrition.

"Otherwise the young people in this province will suffer
damage to their intellectual and physical development," she said
to association members, who were taking part in a cooking
competition.

The supplemental food program was sponsored by the central
government for two years, but was halted when regional autonomy
came into effect last year.

"I know that the program costs billions of rupiah, but don't
think just about the money. We should consider the quality of our
young people, which cannot be bought by money," Andi said.

She said similar programs had been proposed by a number of
mayors and regents, but had been rejected by the provincial
legislature because they were not considered priorities. --Antara