Masboy loses fight at Zambo shelter

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Larita Mardani Jumalla’s only request to Pope Francis was for him to pray that she and her family be spared from further hardships in their transitory home in Barangay (village) Mampang, this city.

Hours after the Inquirer interviewed her on Jan. 15, Jumalla’s 2-year-old son, Masboy, died. The severely malnourished boy and his Badjao mother was featured on Jan. 21 (“Zambo folk to Pope: We need prayers, too”)

Jumalla said Masboy, who had fever then, was brought to a mobile medical team which visited the Masepla Transitory site in Mampang.

But Masboy was not always skin and bones. “He was healthy, always laughing and playing,” his mother said.

The Jumallas were among thousands of residents of Barangay Rio Hondo who left their homes to escape the fighting between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front members more than a year ago.

Jumalla said she and her family stayed along the road on RT Lim Boulevard. “We were always short of food. There was no water. We did not have money to have Masboy checked when he got sick,” she said.

Seven months ago, they were transferred to the Masepla homes. But their situation did not improve.

“We have nothing to eat here. We don’t have water. Masboy’s condition got even worse,” Jumalla said.

She said city social welfare personnel had thought the child was only 4 months old. His age was actually 2 years 3 months.

“Health workers always saw Masboy, but we received no medicines or food,” Jumalla said.

When the photo was published in the Inquirer, several individuals, including national and international humanitarian organizations, tried to reach out to the Jumallas to offer their help to Masboy.

Even Social Welfare Undersecretary Esperanza Cabral “came down here for Masboy,” said Maria Socorro Rojas, city social welfare officer. “But the boy was already dead,” Rojas said.

Virgie Sagrado, city nutritionist, and Dr. Sharon Malicsi, nutrition coordinator, said Jumalla’s children were enrolled in the Outpatient Therapeutic Program, a feeding activity, while they were still staying on RT Lim Boulevard.

Malicsi said Masboy already had pneumonia and acute gastroenteritis when he was referred to them.

The child was suffering from moderate malnutrition when they left the place for Masepla, Sagrado said.

Masboy died of “medical complications,” said Dr. Rodel Agbulos, city health officer. “The boy died of pneumonia secondary to malnutrition,” he said.