A 38-year-old dialysis patient expressed gratitude to Parañaque 1st  District Representative Edwin Olivarez after receiving medical assistance on March 16.

Olivarez said the dialysis patient, whom he called “Ate Gina," was  among the seven other patients confined at different hospitals in Metro Manila who received a guarantee letter as part of the Department of Health (DOH) Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) program.

Other program beneficiaries included a patient confined at Philippine Heart Center, three at National Kidney and Transplant Institute, one at Philippine General Hospital, one at Lung Center of the Philippines, and one from Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center.

The congressman said “Ate Gina” formerly worked at a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company. She also has no partner and is the only person taking care of her parents, both of whom are senior citizens.

Olivarez said “Ate Gina” got sick with hypertension. Her kidney was affected due to too much stress.

He said the patient was advised by her doctor to undergo kidney transplant. However, since she does not have enough money and could not find a donor, she has been undergoing dialysis treatment instead for 10 years.

The congressman said the patient is currently jobless because of her condition.

She has been financial and medical assistance from his office since he was still the mayor of the city.

Olivarez told residents who are in need of financial and medical assistance to visit his congressional office located at the second floor of Parañaque City Hall.