World Hemophilia Day: Let’s raise awareness!

On April 17, with the efforts of the World Federation of Hemophilia (WHF), the health community comes together to raise awareness with this year’s theme: “Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders”. Overall, the health event wishes to push for better management and prevention of the disorder as well as accessible care for everyone, regardless of our differences in gender, race, age, origin, and such.

What is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder passed down from parents to children. People with hemophilia miss important proteins in their blood called clotting factors. These helps in forming clots and stop bleeding. There are different types depending on the deficient factor protein. The most common ones are A and B, while type C is rare. As a result, this leads to prolonged bleeding observed when you have an injury such as cuts or also observed during surgeries.

Vision of the World Hemophilia Day

The event does not only raise awareness on hemophilia alone but also other bleeding disorders such as Von Willebrand disorder and more. A large number of people do not have proper access to treatment and this affects their quality of life. Therefore, fundraising efforts during the event play a crucial role in achieving this vision. The money raised directly helps patients who cannot afford the medical fees.

Get involved!

Here are several ways to get involved and support World Hemophilia Day:

• Raise awareness: Share information about bleeding disorders on social media or within your community.
• Learn more: Visit the WFH website (https://wfh.org/world-hemophilia-day/) to learn more about bleeding disorders and their management.
• Support organizations: Donate to organizations dedicated to research, advocacy, and support for people with bleeding disorders.

By working together, we can help create a future where everyone with a bleeding disorder has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Resources

Mehta P, Reddivari AKR. Hemophilia. [Updated 2023 Jun 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551607/