Child dies of malnutrition in East Nusa Tenggara

The Jakarta Post ,  Kupang  

Monica Monteiro, a six-year-old from Oebelo village in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, died Friday of malnutrition without receiving any medical treatment for her persistent condition.

Kompas.com reported Sunday Monica's parents had been trying to care for her at home for the past three years.

"We treated her in our house. We couldn't have covered the medical costs if we had brought her to the local health centre or hospital," said Monica's father Agustino Monteiro.

Agustino and his family are East Timor refugees who resettled in Oebelo along with other Timorese families. Six children have died from malnutrition in the village this year. (ewd)