Work to compensate children suffering from melamine-tainted Sanlu milk powder has concluded, said a senior Chinese health official on Monday.

Health department officials nationwide would continue visiting sick children and help them receive medical care, said Chen Xiaohong, Vice Health Minister, at a press conference.

But Health Ministry sources refused to give detailed information about how many families were compensated or how much they received.

On January 14, the first family of the six children who died of melamine-tainted baby formula received 200,000 yuan (US$28,985) in compensation.

According to the Health Ministry, 296,000 children were affected by milk powder.

Twenty-two dairy firms contributed 900 million yuan (US$130.43 million) to a compensation fund.

The fund allows a family whose child died of tainted milk powder 200,000 yuan. Those seriously affected will get 30,000 yuan (US$4,348) each and those less seriously affected 2,000 yuan (US$289).

Another 200 million yuan went to a foundation that will cover future medical expenses of affected children.

The Shijiazhuang city government, where Sanlu was based, said in January that almost all its 3,000 affected families had received compensation except for a few families yet to be contacted.

A Chinese local court declared the Sanlu Group bankrupt last month.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2009)