Oops 19 children starved to death so far MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 459 children under five are suffering from malnutrition as of August this year, and 19 died while receiving medical treatment.
“The figure may be higher by December,” Khairul Anwar, the provice’s Health Agency’s nutrition and community health division head, said Monday.
Parents’ lack of awareness and delaying professional treatment for their malnourished children also caused a high mortality rate, he said.
Agency secretary Rohmi Khoiriyati said there was a decreasing trend in the malnourished mortality rate. Last year, the province recorded 980 cases with 38 fatalities.
She said to help minimize malnutrition cases in the province, the administration revitalized community health posts in 911 subdistricts. — JP