The Story of Rosario - Zuellig Foundation

Summary

The village of Danyoung, with a population of 12,400, faces numerous challenges including unstable bridges, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to clean water. The majority of residents, like Jaime and Lucy, are impoverished and struggle to afford basic necessities. Their children suffer from malnutrition and lack of healthcare, exemplified by the tragic death of their youngest, Rosario, due to untreated illnesses and financial constraints in accessing medical care.

Takeaways

• 🏘️ The village of Danyoung is situated along the Malabon-Nevada River, covering five hectares and home to 12,400 individuals or 1,850 families.
• 🌉 Access to the riverside houses in Danyoung is precarious, with unsteady makeshift wooden bridges, posing a risk to children who often fall into the river.
• 🚽 Sanitation is a significant issue, as only 10% of households have toilets, with the remaining 90% disposing of human waste into the river.
• 💧 Water access is limited, with only 10% of the population having piped water, while the rest rely on water fetched from two deep wells at a cost.
• 🏡 Housing in Danyoung is insecure, as no one owns their home or the land they live on, with rents ranging from 500 to 2,000 pesos per month.
• 📈 Migration is common, with 70% of the population moving to Metro Manila from the provinces in search of a better life, like Jaime and his family.
• 💼 Jaime, a former peasant farmer, now earns 165 pesos a day working in construction, while his wife Lucy contributes 50 pesos a day, struggling to feed their four children.
• 🍼 Nutritional ignorance is prevalent, as Lucy was advised against breastfeeding and instead raised her children on condensed milk due to its lower cost.
• 🤒 Health issues are rampant, with all children being malnourished and frequently suffering from infections, fever, and diarrhea, including passing worms.
• 💉 Vaccinations are inadequate, with the local health center unable to provide free vaccines due to budget constraints and suspected misuse of funds.
• 🏥 Access to healthcare is challenging, as evidenced by Rosario's illness and the family's inability to afford the prescribed medicines and hospital bills, leading to her death.

Q & A

What is the location and size of the village of Danyoung?

The village of Danyoung is located along the curve of the Malabon Nevada's River, with a total land area of five hectares.

What is the population of Danyoung, and how many families reside there?

Danyoung has a population of twelve thousand four hundred individuals, which is approximately 1,850 families.

What challenges do the residents of Danyoung face in terms of infrastructure?

Residents face challenges such as crossing unsteady makeshift wooden bridges to reach the Riverside houses, and a lack of proper sanitation facilities, with only 10% of households having toilets.

What is the water access situation in Danyoung?

Only 10% of the residents have water piped into their houses, while 90% rely on water fetched from two deep wells by entrepreneurs, which they have to pay for.

What is the cost of water in Danyoung, and how does it vary?

Five gallons of water cost between fifteen and thirty pesos, depending on the distance of the consumer's dwelling from the wells.

What is the living situation like in terms of housing and rent in Danyoung?

No one in Danyoung owns their home or the land they live on. Rent ranges from 500 to 1,000 pesos a month for a small room, and up to 1,500 to 2,000 pesos for a larger room.

What was Jaime's background before moving to Metro Manila?

Jaime was a former peasant farmer who migrated to Metro Manila from the provinces, seeking a better life.

What is Jaime's current occupation and daily income?

Jaime works hard labor at a construction site in Quezon City, earning one hundred and sixty-five pesos a day.

How does Jaime and Lucy's daily budget for food compare to their income?

Jaime and Lucy can only afford 50 pesos a day to feed themselves and their four children, which is significantly less than Jaime's daily income.

What health issues do Jaime and Lucy's children face due to poor nutrition?

The children suffer from malnutrition, are prone to respiratory tract infections, frequently have fever and diarrhea, and pass worms with their feces due to improper nutrition.

Why were Antonio and Rosario not vaccinated, and what was the situation at the barangay health center?

Antonio and Rosario were not vaccinated because the barangay health center no longer had free vaccines for all the children in the village, as their request for a larger budget for more medicines had been turned down by the City Council.

What happened to Rosario when she fell ill, and what were the financial implications for the family?

When Rosario fell ill, the family had to buy medicines at a high cost, which they could not afford to continue after the medicines were finished. Despite seeking medical help, Rosario's condition worsened, and she eventually died due to the lack of further treatment.