130 Children Freed from Malnutrition

When the local health cadre met Meldo, 3, he was malnourished. He no longer wanted to eat.

He was quickly inlcuded in the Nutrition Post program to receive nutritious food, in the Eruwok Operations Office. He responded well, and is finally healthy and an example of positive nutrition interventions.

"Many of our children who formerly were malnourished are healthy now."

Approximately 20% of the under-five children in this service area have weights below the WHO standard.

This problem is caused by two main factors: the poor quality of food consumed and the general lack of consuming enough calories due to the shortages faced by families.

The target group of children for this nutrition project are the under-fives. The under-fives are more vulnerable to disease and malnutrition could potentially hinder the development of their brains if they don't receive proper nutrition.

This project started on 1 September 2010 and ended 30 September 2013.

"Many of our children who formerly were malnourished are healthy now," said one of the community representatives. In this area, a total of 104 children have increased their nutritional status from malnourished status to a healthy nutritional status, from 2010 to 2013.

The villages assisted by this project include Kemiri village and Mamiri village in Makki district, Pirime village, Nabume village, Yalipok village, Wenam village, Takobak village, Ekanom villagge, Kugame village, Tekul village, Milimbo village and Umbanume village.

As the Nutrition Post closed in September 2013, much appreciation is given to the health cadres. They are agents of change who committed their time and service to the community.

* Written by John Eris Purba, a staff of Wahana Visi Indonesia in Eruwok Operations Office | Editor Hendro Suwito, Senior Editor World Vision Indonesia