Baguio City—For 70-year old Remedio T. Serrano, who hails from Brgy. Balacbac, she is beyond words in expressing her gratefulness to the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, which provides immediate financial assistance to help individuals and families meet their basic needs during times of crisis and ensure their well-being and stability. Subject to the thorough assessment of the social worker, the assistance provided is tailored-fit to the individual’s particular set of circumstances.
“Nabago buhay ko, maraming salamat sa DSWD. Nabubuhay akong kampante at malakas dahil sa mga gamot mula sa medikal at pinansyal na assistance mula sa DSWD. Tinulungan ako ng DSWD na magkaroon ng hearing aid at mapagpatuloy ang maintenance medicines ko para sa diabetes at sakit sa puso. (My life has changed, thanks to DSWD. I can live reassured and strong with the help of the medicines I receive through the medical and financial assistance from DSWD. It has helped me have a hearing aid and in sustaining my maintenance medicines for my diabetes and heart issues.”
According to Ms. Serrano, she has been suffering from Type 2 Diabetes with several complications, notably hearing loss. Apart from these, she has been diagnosed with ischemia, arteriosclerosis, and high cholesterol.
In 2021, alarmed with the sudden deafness in both her ears, she immediately went to Baguio General Hospital for a medical check-up where she found out that she needed hearing aid for her to continue communicating with people. She recounted how this was very difficult for her— notwithstanding the fear, discrimination, and mental anguish that comes with being deaf—also citing an instance where she was bumped by a taxi because she could not hear its horn at all.
While she started to despair about her medical ordeal, a social worker at the Crisis Intervention Program (CIS) was able to interview her, assess her crucial needs and provide the necessary intervention. At the onset, she said she was already glad that she was able to buy maintenance medicines for her medical ailments with the help of AICS. Nevertheless, she was much more elated to be able to get a hearing aid, even if only for her left ear. This was after the successful operation on her right ear to remove the benign tumor causing her hearing loss as an offshoot of the impact of diabetes.
With this, she was able to do work again, going at sideline jobs in the city such as housekeeping and other odd jobs to help make ends meet for her and her husband, who has Parkinson’s Disease. She noted how the financial assistance for both their medicines from AICS since 2010 has kept them going. She added that she is reluctant to request help from her children, who already have their own families and priorities, that is why she makes it a point to hustle for their own living expenses while grately appreciating the crucial augmentation for their medical expenses.
Nowadays, as part of her routine, she undergoes regular health check-ups, including laboratory tests, if needed, where doctors appraise her progress from her diseases. She says the doctors are very helpful as they issue the prescription medications for three months every check-up to jive with the documentary requirements of the AICS to allow clients to receive financial assistance only quarterly. Coupled with a healthy lifestyle, she says being able to take her medicines regularly through AICS is a great blessing.
“Kung wala ang DSWD, baka wala na ako dito sa mundo. Kaya lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa ahensya, sa gobyerno. Tuloy-tuloy ang gamot ko at paggaling ko sa mga sakit ko. (If not for DSWD, I would have been gone. That is why I am very thanful to the agency, to the government. I am able to sustain my medicines so I can be well through and through.”), she said. #DSWD FO CAR Social Marketing Unit, Christian Robert Sandoval
