Thousands of children are ill

Thousands of children are ill

PEKANBARU, Riau: Approximately 16,000 primary school students
here are worm-infested and anemic, a health official said
yesterday.

Antara quoted Rita Kemalawaty at the local office of the
Ministry of Health as saying that the figure was derived from a
survey conducted of 74,000 children in slum areas.

"The children are often sleepy. They lose interest in their
studies because of poor health," she said.

She blamed a lack of parental supervision in children's diets
and the environment they play in. "They play in swamp areas where
germs and viruses abound, attacking the children," she said.

The health office will soon launch a deworming drive and give
the children meal supplements. (swe)