Poverty Watch: Chronic malnutrition case in Makassar

Nine-year-old Jamal lies in a ward at Jala Ammari Naval Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi. His rib cage is clearly visible, while an intravenous drip is attached to his thin right arm.

Despite his age, the boy only weighs 10 kilograms and has been diagnosed as suffering from chronic malnutrition as well as acute bronchitis.

The boy’s condition is ironic, given South Sulawesi’s achievement as a national food hub, with bumper rice harvests of up to 2 million tons annually. Its economic growth stands at 8 percent and it has been carrying out free healthcare programs for the past three years.

Jala Ammari Naval Hospital head Pudji Widodo said the hospital had been treating Jamal for the past week.

He was referred to the hospital from the Pattingaloang community health center in Makassar after running a high fever for 10 days.

“When he was admitted to hospital, he was very weak. He couldn’t sit up and we immediately treated him,” said Pudji.

Pediatrician Cheerie Wulur, who is treating the boy, said that the patient’s condition was severe since he was suffering from malnutrition, lung infection and parasitic worms.

“Currently, we are focusing on treating the bronchitis. When he was admitted to the hospital he could not stop coughing. We will focus on improving his health and slowly increasing his weight after the bronchitis has abated. But for the time being, we have provided him with high-calorie and high-protein food,” said Cheerie.

Cheerie said the ideal weight of a child Jamal’s age is 25 kilograms.

The poor nutrition he received so far, she added, is believed to be the cause of his acute lung infection.

Cheerie said Jamal’s malnourished condition would have an impact on his physical and mental development, evident from the fact that he has not attended school despite his age. He is also unable to talk very much nor move his limbs well.

Jamal’s mother, Hanisu, 40, said her youngest son’s condition had deteriorated in the past month.

She said that the boy started suffering from the illnesses when he was in Sorong, Papua, to visit his older siblings living there. He and his mother stayed five months in Sorong from March to August this year.

Upon returning from Sorong, Jamal’s condition further deteriorated and his weight dropped drastically, she added.

Hanisu then took him to the Pattingaloang community health center, which later referred him to the hospital. “Before falling sick, he was not as thin as now,” she said.

Hanisu said Jamal, who weighed 2 kilograms when he was born, was prone to falling ill with fever.

The snack seller said that since her husband passed away she has been unable to provide enough nutritious food for her son.

“The family income is just enough to buy rice and simple side dishes for the day,” she said.