The prevalence rate of haemophilia is one in every 10, 000 persons, and considering the rarity of its occurrence, many doctors are not aware of the diagnostic patterns of the disorder, said V.K. Subburaj, Principal Secretary, Health, inaugurating a day-long workshop on haemophilia organised here on Monday. The programme, organised by the Directorate of Medical Health in association with Hemophilia Society, was to promote awareness of the various aspects of haemophilia among doctors, nurses and lab- technicians. As many as 125 doctors and 100 para-medicos participated in it.
Stressing the need for an organised treatment procedure that addressed all the concerns of the disorder, Mr. Subburaj said “A grant of Rs.15 crore for administering the clotting factor to haemophilic persons across the State has been proposed, which once sanctioned, will be used to procure the amount of factor required for a year.”
Haemophilia causes uncontrolled continuous internal bleeding which can cause crippling due to damage in joints, said Rajeshwari Prabakaran, Secretary, Hemophilic Society (Madras chapter). Citing instances of internal bleeding in the brain when infusion of the factor is stepped up by 120 per cent, she said that though it was extremely beneficial to have a stock of clotting factor VIII in government hospitals, it was equally important for doctors and medical staff to administer the right treatment to haemophilic patients.
The workshop is to help the medical fraternity understand the disorder better,” she added. Director of Medical Education, V. Kanagasabai highlighted the “pivotal role played by the therapeutic product”, the clotting factor VIII that is now administered to haemophilic persons for free in government hospitals. “Efforts are being made to alleviate the suffering caused due to this disorder”.
Haematology Department head at CMC Vellore, Alok Srivastava called for more such initiatives to create awareness among doctors and the community at large.
