Coordination support among network members is crucial for the life-and-death situation of even only one individual. 

Last February 2020, the husband of a member of the people’s organization, Association of Barangay Justice Advocates (BJA) of San Jose de Buenavista, Antique was admitted at the Antique provincial hospital due to liver problem. He was later released and advised to go to Iloilo City for further diagnosis and treatment. His wife scheduled him for CT scan and admission. However, due to the ECQ, provincial boundaries were closed and public transport was unavailable.  

While waiting for the lifting of the ECQ, his suffering worsened and the couple decided to negotiate with the provincial hospital for an ambulance to transport the patient to Iloilo. 

The Antique Federation of Non-Government Organizations (AFON), through its member organization, PROCESS Foundation Panay, coordinated immediately with the Municipal Health Officer (MHO) of San Jose de Buenvista and asked assistance for the use of an ambulance. The MHO then coordinated with the Municipal DRRM Officer and advised PROCESS of the vehicle’s availability. The patient was transported to Iloilo. 

Our regional network, the Western Visayas Network of NGOs and POs (WEVNET), provided financial support of Php 4,000 for the patient’s other emergency needs while on transit. 

The patient was admitted at the Don Benito Hospital in Iloilo City and was diagnosed to have stage 4 liver cancer. Due to lack of funds and non-assurance of healing, the couple decided not to subject the patient to chemotherapy. They decided to go home to Antique. 

The total hospital bill amounted to Php 45,000, but the couple did not have that amount. WEVNET contacted partners at the DSWD and PCSO for assistance. All necessary requirements for processing financial assistance were submitted online. The funds from DSWD and PCSO were instrumental for their release. 

After the release, the patient and his wife had to unfortunately stay for three more days outside the hospital because, according to the MHO, the isolation facility in San Jose had to be prepared yet. Without bed for the evenings, WEVNET coordinated once again among friends and partners for spare folding beds. 

After transporting them back to San Jose, the couple stayed in the isolation facility for the 14-day quarantine. Four days after, the patient passed on and will be buried on May 25, 2020.

By: Lorena Navallasca, Antique Federation of Non-Government Organizations (AFON) and Raul M. Hular