The nine-month-old Siti Aulia died of the complication of heart and lung diseases she suffered, said Sudiko, a health worker of Sarageni public health center in Cimarga subdistrict.
"Siti has ever been treated at Adjidarmo general hospital in Rangkasbitung for several days before being taken home by her parents," he said.
The toddler got malnourished as a result of frequent ailments she had suffered since her birth, he said.
"Siti may have suffered malnourishment because she is easily fed due to her ailments," he said.
Sudiko said his public health center was currently treating 13 malnourished toddlers under the health ministry`s sponsored breast milk and supplement food program.
"We distribute such supplementary foods as biscuits to all integrated service posts (Posyandu = a community-based health care system-eds)," he said.
Head of nourishment section of Lebak district`s health office, Tata Sudita, said majority of malnourished children was hospitalized due to complication of ailments.
As a result of their fragile health, they were vulnerable to various ailments, she said adding that 1,028 children currently suffered malnourishment in Banten.
"I have asked the health ministry to continue the breast milk and supplement food program (in an effort to take care of the malnourished toddlers)," Tata said.
Banten is one of provinces, which remains vulnerable to malnourishment problem in Indonesia.
According to World Vision Indonesia, a non-governmental organization which plays an active role in fighting malnutrition, more than five million Indonesian children are malnourished.
It said the malnutrition was an "iceberg phenomenon" in which the number of minor, moderate, and serious malnourished children is often far higher than those seen on television.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
