In most of the 42,000 villages (barangays) throughout the Philippines, basic services are minimal. When families on the edge of poverty get sick, they often wait until their illnesses worsen before traveling to a doctor or buying medicine in another city. And when children are sick, it is very grave. 

Illness quickly becomes a crisis for the poor. Like Sapang Bato village. It was especially critical for Vilma when her youngest son Jimmy was born with severe asthma and there were four other children to care for.

The father, Rolando, earns a percentage working someone else’s farm. And Vilma earns only $2 a day doing field work or laundry. Every bit of money is allocated to food, detergent, and school fees, with 4 cents left for medicine.

So whenever Jimmy suffers from asthma, she has him inhale hot vinegar vapor. If his condition worsens, she borrows money, at 30% interest, to take Jimmy for treatment in the city. Sometimes Vilma gets free medicines from the Social Welfare office.

Recently Vilma told Leah, the Outreach International Philippines facilitator, “Sometimes my sadness makes it feel like I can’t breathe. I wish we had an alternative to expensive medicines and far-away pharmacies.”

At the next community meeting, Leah encouraged Vilma to discuss the lack of affordable medicines in the village. And so, with an investment of US$2,000 and after much hard work, a village pharmacy was reality. The pharmacy now benefits 396 residents, averaging US$34 in monthly income.

Now Vilma spends half as much on medicine. And with readily available medicine, Jimmy’s condition rarely worsens, saving costly doctor visits.  In dire circumstances, residents may use credit for medicine and pay when money is available. So Vilma can use her household money for staying healthy.

“The pharmacy project proved that unity and cooperation among neighbors is the way to reach our dreams, Vilma says proudly. “By planning and role-playing how to address this issue, we were prepared to approach authorities with the power to act.”

“Now,” she smiles, “I am more confident in caring for my family, especially my Jimmy.”