First lady hopes no more undernourished children in Indonesia

Banjarmasin (ANTARA News) - First Lady Ani Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on mothers to take good care of their children, particularly those aged under five years old, by providing them with the best possible nutrition.

"I should no longer hear that there are undernourished children, so please take good care of them," the First Lady said when accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on a visit to an integrated health center in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday.

Mme Ani said the best nutrition for children was their mother`s milk which should be given until the infants were at least six months old without additional food.

"Mothers should not be enticed to give additional milk or canned milk. None of them is better than breastfeeding," she said.

She also suggested that mothers take their children to the nearest integrated health service center regularly to keep track of their growth.

Meanwhile, the president said on the occasion that the government was giving priority to development in the health sector.

"I have asked all the governors and regional heads in Indonesia to keep on paying attention to development in the health sector by providing the people with better healthcare facilities," he said.

The central government was providing free medical treatment to people being treated in the 3rd-class wards of hospitals and free services at integrated health centers.

On the occasion, the president presented the integrated health center with aid in the forms of baby foods worth Rp2.3 billion, healthcare instruments worth Rp419 million and a car among other things.

The head of state and the first lady were in Banjarmasin in the company of several cabinet ministers, including Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni, Administrative Reforms Minister Taufiq Effendi and State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault.

The president and entourage were in the capital of South Kalimantan province to attend the opening of the National Student Sports Week which would be participated in by 31 provinces in Indonesia.