Emma Saludin shares her success story after the Bangsamoro Government paved the way for her husband’s prompt recovery, Emma could not contain her tears of joy brought about by the medical assistance they have been receiving from the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD). (Comenei Ali/BIO)
“Hindi ko alam saan magsisimula,” [I did not know where to start] Emma Saludin recalled that fateful day when she frantically searched for help after her husband, Ibrahim Saludin, encountered an unexpected and nearly fatal vehicular accident in March 2023.
Emma, 35, a Bangsamoro vendor and mother of two, used to live a normal life, typically earning P650 a day from selling various frozen goods and pastil, a Maguindanaon rice dish usually topped with sautéed shredded chicken.
On the other hand, Ibrahim, Emma’s 31-year-old better half and a driver of ‘payong-payong,’ a local tricycle ideally covered by an umbrella, consistently returned home with at least P250 from his daily driving shifts, thus maintaining a balance in income generation between himself and his wife.
For Emma, living with Ibrahim led to a modest but comfortable life, allowing their joint efforts to secure their daily necessities of putting food on the table and sending their children to school.
Not long after this seemingly stress-free life, Emma received a call on March 29 last year, would shatter her into pieces and change her life tremendously.
Unbeknownst to Emma, Ibrahim suffered an unfortunate motorcycle accident that rendered him immobile due to a spinal cord injury.
Devastated by the mishap, Emma lost hope and did not know where to begin.
Because of what happened, Emma starts her day at four in the morning by tending to her husband’s wounds and having everything ready for breakfast.
She also wakes her children up for school to prevent them from being late for their classes.
“Sobrang hirap itaguyod mag-isa ang pamilya. Nang dahil sa aksidente, wala na akong katuwang sa buhay pati sa pag-aalaga ng mga anak ko,” Emma stated while patiently holding back her tears from streaming down her face.
[It is really hard to support my family alone. Because of the accident, I’ve been left alone, even in taking care of my children.]
Emma, through a concerned Bangsamoro whom she met at a hospital, learned about the Ministry of Social Services and Development’s (MSSD) Bangsamoro Critical Assistance for Indigents in Response to Emergency Situations (BCARES) Program, which subsequently supplied assistance to her husband’s medical needs.
Through the Ministry’s BCARES program, those who are impoverished, vulnerable, disadvantaged, or experiencing other crises can get financial aid as well as medical, burial, transportation, food, and other necessities.
The MSSD partnered with 14 hospitals across the Bangsamoro region. To date, a total of 16,909 indigent patients received free hospitalization and 88, 377 received financial assistance for medication. Additionally, 7,840 people in dire circumstances received burial assistance, and 21,980 individuals received medicine support through seven partner pharmacies.
BCARES indeed helped Emma in numerous ways, aiding her finances and easing her worries, which she once considered “insurmountable.”
She has been receiving financial assistance from the MSSD for nearly a year now, which is generous enough to cover Ibrahim’s medical essentials.
To prevent her husband from contracting an infection from his excrement, BCARES also provided a colostomy bag, necessary to sustain good health and avert potential poisoning. Expected for the first quarter of 2024 is the receiving of a reclining wheelchair, beneficial for Ibrahim’s mobility.
Emma shared that in less than a year, her husband has improved a lot.
She added that her husband was once bedridden and could hardly speak; until recently, he could already communicate and show positive signs of development, which is a milestone for the spouses.
Emma’s delight becomes apparent as she is being assisted by the MSSD’s BCARES staff about the additional medical support they are yet to benefit from. (Comenei Ali/BIO)
This indeed made her grateful to the Bangsamoro Government for its continuous and ‘costless’ social services, which provided her and other indigents with hope.
She said others might think BARMM Government lacks empathy, “Ang hindi nila alam ay nasa likod sila na handang tumulong [sa mga nangangailangan]. Alhamdulillah!”
[What they don’t know is that they are behind, ready to help (those in need). Praise be to Allah!]
“Nang dahil sa BARMM, alam ko na sa’n magsisimula,” Emma said.
[Because of BARMM, I now know where to begin.]
