Tabuk City, Kalinga – Around 11 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who received their mobility devices such as prosthetic legs and arms could not help but feel elated, many saying they were given ‘second life and hope’ because they enabled them to function better.
The prostheses were provided free through the Office of the President and the MVRN (Ma. Victoria R. Nazarita) Prosthesis Center.
Melchora Jacob, one of the 11 recipients during the turnover ceremony held at Kalinga Astrodome, expressed excitement by telling that she could now move easier to enjoy her hobbies and economic activity such as planting.
“Para akong nabigyan ng second life. Although haan mo pay a talaga a mausar pero adda idiayen utak mo a pwede na akong mag-plantita, meron talagang pag-asa,” Jacob said in an interview.
Amputation caused by diabetes
Jacob narrated that diabetes, which runs in their family, led to the infection and amputation of her right leg, below her knee on January 24, 2021.
It has been 30 years since she was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar.
She admitted she neglected her health as she did not feel severe pain until the infection quickly spread.
“Agasem man diay nga almost 2 years nak a nagid-idda ta nag-serious nak ngay,” Jacob recalled.
There was even a time when she thought that she’d rather be dead because of the difficulty of mobility.
“Agsangsangitak. Anya met daytoyen apo, di nak pay nga inala kunkunak ta nag-rigat ti mobility,” Jacob said.
How Jacob knew of the free device mobility program
The 69-year-old amputee recounted that the youngest among her 3 children searched for low price prosthesis centers on Facebook when she found MVRN (Ma. Victoria R. Nazarita) Prosthesis Center.
Upon inquiry, MVRN, as the service provider, informed Jacob and family of the joint program of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP) with Kalinga Provincial Local Government Unit for qualified PWDs.
Ma. Victoria R. Nazarita explained that if Jacob will be able to pass all requirements, OSAP will shoulder 70% of the total cost and the remaining 30% will be given as Kalinga LGU counterpart through Governor Ferdinand Tubban.
Jacob was also approached by a staff of Provincial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Michael Karel Sugguiyao, inviting her to the scheduled measurement.
On April 29, 2021, Jacob attended the screening, interview and evaluation of PWDs, including measurement of mobility devices and just this August 9, she was given the device.
“Agsangit tuy pusok ti ragsak ti suporta kadakami a PWDs”
Jacob felt blessed and thankful beyond words to the people behind the provision of free mobility device.
“Napan nak nag-pasalamat kanyada, sinag-saggaysak suda. Agsangit tuy pusok sir ti ragsak ko kunak ken governor. Ken diay haan ko maiyebkas ngem thank you thank you ladtan ta awan sabali a maibagak iti daytoy a suporta yu kadakami a PWD. Dakkel launay daytoy, thank you Lord for this technology,” Jacob exclaimed.
Jacob is a retired staff of Outpatient department (OPD) of Kalinga Provincial Hospital and a resident of Linak, Laya East, Tabuk City.
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