Thousands suffer from malnutrition

BOGOR (JP): Almost 8,300 babies in Bogor, West Java, have suffered from malnutrition, an official said here on Tuesday.

Bogor's administration secretary, Itoch Tochija pointed out that last year the government found 698 babies, or one percent of the total babies, suffered from severe malnutrition and the other 7,600 or 12.8 percent had mild malnutrition.

"We've been trying to tackle this problem by providing them additional food free of charge. Hopefully we can reduce their number this year," said Itoch.

Meanwhile, Bogor's health office chief Triwanda Elan said that Bogor administration had committed itself to freeing the regency of the malnutrition problem next year.(21)