Ministry of Social Affairs Responds to Cases of Infants with Malnutrition in Indragiri Hilir

Writer :

Humas Rumbai Pekanbaru

Editor :

Annisa YH

Translator :

Karlina Irsalyana

INDRAGIRI HILIR (July 18, 2021) - Stunting in children is a national issue that needs serious attention and immediate handling by multi actors, including the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Anyone could be touched and was certainly stunned when they saw firsthand the condition of S (14 months), a toddler who initially experienced pain from a centipede bite, was treated at Husada Rengat Hospital but due to lack of funds, S's illness was getting worse. In addition, S also suffered from malnutrition. S's body lay weak and helpless and his weight did not match his age.

Toddler S is the 10th child of the couple Johendrianto and Ipah, whose address is at Jalan Sinar Kuantan, Pancur Village, Keritang District, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province.

Responding to the problem of toddler S in Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the "Rumbai" Center in Pekanbaru coordinated with the Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos) and the Social Service of Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau Province.

"The purpose of this case response is so that baby S can immediately receive prompt and appropriate treatment considering that S's condition looks weak at Puri Husada Tembilahan Hospital. This is a form of synergy between the central and regional governments in responding to reports from the public quickly," said Ahmad Subarkah, Head of Balai "Rumbai" in Pekanbaru.

Ahmad Subarkah added that it is necessary to involve various related agencies so that the problem of children with malnutrition does not recur, especially the accessibility of children to get proper health rights. This is to protect children in crisis situations such as that experienced by S.

The Head of the Social Service of Indragiri Hilir Regency, Arifin, and his staff welcomed the presence of the "Rumbai" Center in Pekanbaru. The Regent of Indragiri Hilir has instructed that S is immediately treated at Puri Husada Tembilahan Hospital, even though S does not yet have a Healthy Indonesia Card (KIS). "Currently, 13 children with malnutrition have been recorded from the Health Service," said Arifin.

On this occasion also the Head of the "Rumbai" Center in Pekanbaru, accompanied by the Head of the Indragiri Hilir District Social Service, handed over the Child Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) package in the form of baby kits, child nutrition and additional food for toddlers S. The Child ATENSI Component was also given to 3 other children who live in Tembilahan City, namely S (2 months), E (6 years), and M (4 years).

S's father, Johandrianto, said that S's illness was discovered when he was 8 months old. S was stung by a Centipede then had a fever and convulsions. S's father, who is only a casual laborer in the oil palm plantation and S's mother, is a housewife, making S's care not optimal and causing malnutrition which worsens S's condition, but due to lack of funds and no BPJS, S was finally taken to his uncle's house in Sungai Dusun subdistrict , Batang Tuaka.

"It's sad to see S's condition, but we can't do much, I hope my son gets well soon, I thank the Ministry of Social Affairs and all those who have helped our child so that our child can now be treated at Puri Husada Hospital, Tembilahan," said Johandrianto hopefully.

The family would like to thank the "Rumbai" Center in Pekanbaru which has provided reinforcement and assistance and will later provide fulfillment of S's needs and ensure that S can continue his treatment.

2021-07-19
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