Lawmaker to ink pact for free dialysis

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Third District Congressman Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. will enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center for the provision of free dialysis.

Gonzales said with the overwhelming support he got from his constituents, he will just continue serving and providing the needs of the people.

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He added that one of his priorities will be the medical needs of patients particularly those that require regular dialysis.

"Hopefully we can start providing free dialysis this August," he said.

Asked about the requirements to avail of the free dialysis, Gonzales replied, “Wala. Basta kailangan ng tao na madialysis kausapin lang nila ang aking chief of staff. Ok na yun.”

With this, the families of the patients lauded Gonzales for the show of concern to them.

“Ngayon pa lamang po nagpapasalamat na kami sa mabuting puso ni Congressman Dong Gonzales. Malaking bagay po kung matutuloy ang programang ito para sa amin. Sana dumami pa ang mga katulad ninyo,” Jellyca Dungca, daughter of a patient who undergoes dialysis said.

Dialysis is a procedure that is a substitute for many of the normal duties of the kidneys. It can allow individuals to live productive and useful lives, even though their kidneys no longer work adequately. An essential job of the kidney is to regulate the body's fluid balance. It does this by adjusting the amount of urine that is excreted on a daily basis.

Another major duty of the kidney is to remove the waste products that the body produces throughout the day.