JAKARTA — After experiencing febrile seizures at the age of 1.5 years, Azkadina (5) suffered nerve damage, affecting her hearing ability. Despite undergoing therapy at the hospital, pediatric specialists recommended that Azkadina use a Hearing Aid (HA).
“Initially, she could hear and understand speech. So, it wasn’t congenital, but her hearing was impaired after the febrile seizures. My daughter was recommended to use a Hearing Aid, but its cost is relatively high for us, who work daily as motorcycle taxi drivers. But we still made efforts for Dina to undergo therapy,” shared Azkadina’s father with the Dompet Dhuafa Team on Tuesday (16/1/2023).
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Subsequently, Azkadina began schooling. Her parents enrolled her at Gemilang Indonesia in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. Gemilang Indonesia provides free educational programs for underprivileged, orphaned, and needy children. When registering, Gemilang Indonesia’s teachers asked the parents/guardians to discuss the potential and limitations of the prospective students.
“When she first took the school test, her parents were open about Dina’s condition, so we tried to assist. Gemilang Indonesia had facilitated a similar situation before, so we immediately responded and discussed. The cost is significant, so Gemilang Indonesia, also a zakat management partner of Dompet Dhuafa, proposed this assistance,” said Sumarmi Asih, an educator at Gemilang Indonesia.
“The main challenge has been her hearing, so there was only a difference in task collection among her peers. She’s cheerful and happy; this assistance is very helpful. We are grateful, and hopefully, she becomes even more diligent and smart,” she added.
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Indeed, that morning, the Dompet Dhuafa Team visited Azkadina’s home in an area in Jati Padang, Pasar Minggu. Through the Free Health Services (LKC) program, Dompet Dhuafa provided a Hearing Aid to Azkadina. Previously, the LKC Team had facilitated the steps for Azkadina’s HA fitting.
“In December 2023, the request came through the HED (Dhuafa Emergency Hotline). We immediately conducted an assessment and visited Dina’s home. She truly needed it. After verification, we proceeded with hearing tests, HA measurement, fitting, and ear molding. It took about a week. Alhamdulillah, today, we were able to provide it for Dina to use directly,” explained Refi from the LKC Dompet Dhuafa Team after distributing the HA aid.
This HA aid is also part of the Humanesia Program, running from November 2023 to January 2024, as Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment to social and humanitarian sectors.
“As parents, we worry about her future, her mental state, education, career, and more. When we learned about the HA’s cost, we didn’t know what to do. It seemed impossible to save with our current needs, and we even considered borrowing money. Alhamdulillah, our prayers were answered by Allah. Through the kindness of donors through Gemilang Indonesia and Dompet Dhuafa,” expressed Dina’s parents. (Dompet Dhuafa/Dhika Prabowo)