One-eyed woman gets help for facial prosthesis after being featured on ‘Reporter’s Notebook’

After being featured on "Reporter's Notebook" in November, a one-eyed woman received an outpouring of help so she could get facial prosthesis.

According to the Reporter's Notebook episode, 60-year-old Rosita was diagnosed with a tumor in her right cheek in 2017.

To help stop it from spreading, the doctors at Philippine General Hospital (PGH) had to remove her right eye.

After three years of not coming back to the hospital, Lola Rosita got checked again and was finally declared tumor-free despite her fears.

However, her doctor recommended she get a prosthesis, which amounted to over Php 100,000 to Php 200,000. She also needed dentures with an obturator to cover her gums.

After the airing of her episode, several generous donors reached out to her to give financial aid.

A prosthetics and medical services center also shouldered Lola Rosita's facial prosthesis for free, and a dental clinic offered to do her dentures.

After three years of waiting, Lola Rosita finally had a new face to show the world.

"Sa lahat ng doktor, sa PGH, sa Channel 7, may tumulong na," she said. "Salamat sa Diyos!"

Health Alliance for Democracy’s Albert Pascual said Lola Rosita's situation wasn't uncommon.

"'Pag may karamdaman ang mahihirap, takot sila sa ospital na alam nila 'pag pasok nila sa ospital samo't-saring gastusin ang kanilang haharapin. Natatakot sila na 'yung gastusin nila diyan sa pagpagamot, maraming maapektuhan sa pamilya nila na maraming nagugutom," he said.

According to a Philippine Statistics Authority report released last year, every Filipino spent at least Php 7,496 for health services in 2018.

"Kagaya ni nanay na walang kakayanan para pagamot ang sarili, nahirirapan kahit Php 7,000 lang health expediture na sinasabi ng pamahalaan ay hindi parin napupunuan ng ating gobyerno," said Pascual. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News