Indonesia makes progress in combating child malnutrition

Indonesia has been among the top 15 countries in the world in terms of progress in dealing with child malnutrition, local media reported Thursday.

The 13th "Annual Report on the State of the World's Mothers" compiled by Save the Children said that between 1990 and 2010, Indonesia has made great strides to combat child malnutrition by delivering essential services for children.

Ricardo Caivano, country director of Save the Children's for Indonesia said that the country had adopted six key nutrition solutions, including promotion of breast-feeding, complimentary feeding, vitamin A, iron and zinc supplements as well as improving hygiene, which the NGO considers has the greatest potential to safe lives. "Indonesia has already implemented these solutions, and the result is encouraging. Indonesia now ranks in the top 15 countries making the fastest progress against the child malnutrition," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

This year's report focuses on nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, which holds the key to the child's survival and future development.

According to the report, more than 3.5 million children die of malnutrition every year.

Data from the NGO said that more than 170 million children in the world do not receive adequate nutrition during this critical period.

Data from the Health Ministry show that the prevalence of malnourishment in Indonesia stands at 17.9 percent in 2010. To meet MDG targets, the government must bring the figure down to 15. 5 percent by 2015.