The Story of Rosario - Zuellig Family Foundation

Summary

The village of Tanong, situated along the Malabon Navotas River, struggles with inadequate infrastructure and services. With a population of 12,400, only 10% have toilets, and 90% rely on the polluted river for waste disposal. Access to clean water is limited, and most residents cannot afford to own their homes. The story of Haime and Lucy, who migrated for a better life, exemplifies the hardship faced by many. They live in chronic debt, struggle with malnutrition, and lack proper healthcare, leading to the tragic death of their youngest child, Rosario, due to untreated illness and lack of access to affordable medical care.

Takeaways

• 🏘️ The village of Tanong is situated along the Malabon Navotas River, covering a small area of 5 hectares and housing 12,400 individuals in 1,850 families.
• 🌉 Access to the Riverside houses in Tanong is precarious, relying on unsteady makeshift wooden bridges, posing a risk to children who often fall into the river.
• 🚽 Only 10% of households in Tanong have toilets, with the remaining 90% disposing of human waste into the river.
• 💧 Water scarcity is an issue, with only 10% of households receiving piped water, while the rest buy water from entrepreneurs at a cost of 15 to 30 pesos for five gallons.
• 🏡 No one in Tanong owns their home or the land they live on, with rent ranging from 500 to 2,000 pesos per month for rooms of varying sizes.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hame and his family, part of the 70% of the population who migrated to Metro Manila from the provinces, live in Tanong and struggle to make ends meet.
• 💼 Hame earns a modest income of 165 pesos a day working hard labor in construction, while his wife Lucy earns only 50 pesos a day, barely enough to feed their four children.
• 🍼 Lack of proper nutrition and knowledge about childcare is evident, as Lucy was advised against breastfeeding and instead used infant formula and condensed milk.
• 🤒 The children suffer from malnutrition and are frequently sick with respiratory infections, fever, and diarrhea, with Lucy mistakenly believing worms to be beneficial.
• 🏥 Limited access to healthcare is highlighted by the Bangai Health Center's lack of free vaccines and medicines, leading to high costs when private hospital care is needed.
• 💔 The tragic death of Rosario, the youngest child, due to continuous fever and diarrhea, underscores the dire living conditions and lack of healthcare in Tanong.

Q & A

What is the geographical location of the village of Tanong?

The village of Tanong is situated in the curve of the Malabon Navotas River.

What is the total land area of Tanong village?

The total land area of Tanong village is 5 hectares.

How many individuals and families reside in Tanong village?

Tanong village is home to a population of 12,400 individuals or 1,850 families.

What challenges do the residents of Tanong face in accessing their homes?

Residents have to cross unsteady, makeshift wooden bridges to reach their homes, and it is common for children to fall into the river.

What is the sanitation situation in Tanong village regarding toilets and waste disposal?

Only 10% of the households have toilets, while the remaining 90% use the river to dispose of human waste.

What percentage of Tanong's population has access to piped water?

Only 10% of the population has access to piped water, while 90% buy water from entrepreneurs who fetch it from two deep wells.

What is the cost of water for residents in Tanong village?

Five gallons of water cost between 15 and 30 pesos, depending on the distance of the consumer's dwelling from the wells.

What is the living situation in terms of housing and rent in Tanong village?

No one in Tanong 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 bigger room.

What is the occupation and daily income of Haime, a resident of Tanong village?

Haime is a former peasant farmer who now earns 165 pesos a day working hard labor at a construction site in Quezon City.

What challenges do Haime and his wife Lucy face in feeding their children?

Lucy and Haime can afford only 50 pesos a day to feed themselves and their four children, often leading Lucy to skip meals to feed the children.

What health issues did Haime and Lucy's children face due to improper nutrition and lack of vaccinations?

The children were malnourished, sickly, prone to respiratory tract infections, frequently had fever and diarrhea, and passed worms with their feces. The two youngest children, Antonio and Rosario, did not receive vaccinations.

What happened when Lucy sought medical help for Rosario at the Bangai Health Center?

Lucy was told that the center had finished the year's budget allotment for free medicines and that the request for a larger budget had been turned down by the city council due to suspected misuse of funds.

What were the costs of the medicines Lucy bought for Rosario and what was the outcome?

Lucy bought a cough medicine for 109 pesos, a diarrhea medicine for 243 pesos, and an antibiotic for 50 pesos. Despite taking the medicines, Rosario's condition worsened, and she eventually died.

Why did Rosario's parents take her home from the private hospital against medical advice?

Haime and Lucy took Rosario home because they could not afford the mounting medical bills, which reached 4,125 pesos after just one night.

What was the final outcome for Rosario and what could have been the contributing factors to her death?

Rosario died after a week of continuous fever and diarrhea, suffering from severe dehydration and weakness. Contributing factors include lack of proper nutrition, no vaccinations, inadequate medical treatment, and financial constraints preventing access to healthcare.