CAMIGUIN — Families in Camiguin often have to travel outside the island province to find specialists for children with developmental conditions, adding transportation, accommodation and medical expenses to their financial burden.
A government initiative is bringing these services closer to home, providing free developmental assessments and rehabilitation services to 100 children while helping their families with financial assistance.
The two-day Island Children’s Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Caravan (CAREvan), held on Oct. 29-30, was organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) and local government units.
The caravan brought developmental pediatricians, rehabilitation therapists, clinical psychologists, nutritionist-dietitians and social workers to all five municipalities of Camiguin.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said families in island provinces often travel to cities such as Davao, Butuan or Cebu to consult specialists, making access to treatment more expensive and difficult.
He said the government wanted to bring national services directly to communities, particularly children with disabilities who need specialized attention.
Under the program, each child underwent a multidisciplinary assessment to identify their developmental needs and appropriate interventions.
Beneficiaries received individualized treatment and intervention plans, as well as nutrition care plans. They will also be registered under the unified persons with disabilities (PWD) identification system to help facilitate their access to government services and benefits.
Each of the 100 beneficiary households will receive P3,000 through the DSWD Field Office-10's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
Camiguin Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said the caravan served 62 children from Mambajao, 11 each from Mahinog and Sagay, three from Guinsiliban and 13 from Catarman.
The NCDA will shoulder the beneficiaries' therapy expenses for five months. After that, Romualdo will continue providing assistance for their therapy through the AICS program, according to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Maida Baclayo.
The provincial government is also working to localize the program and expand access to developmental assessment and rehabilitation services for more children.
A mother of one beneficiary welcomed the initiative, saying it spared families the need to travel outside the province to have their children assessed by specialists.
"Nakatabang gyapon ang CAREvan sa mga bata. First time pa man nako mag-anhi diri. Ing-ani diay ang ilang pag-assist, priority gyud sa bata ang ilang atimanon," she said.
(The CAREvan has been helpful to the children. This is my first time coming here. This is how they assist; they really prioritize children's care.)
She also thanked provincial and congressional leaders for helping children with disabilities receive specialized attention within Camiguin.
The Camiguin activity was the second Island CAREvan rollout in Northern Mindanao, following its initial implementation in Lanao del Norte.
The program aims to improve access to developmental assessment, rehabilitation and social protection services for children with disabilities and their families.
With the governor's commitment to continue therapy assistance through AICS after the initial five-month support, the challenge will be to ensure that children can sustain their treatment without requiring their families to shoulder the full cost. (PIA)
