Haemophilia workshop for patients with haemophilia held at CMC

Ludhiana, April 21, 2018: World Haemophilia day is celebrated across globe on 17th April every year and the month of April is dedicated for haemophilia awareness. CMC Ludhiana along with the patients celebrated this day today.

Haemophilia is a condition in which a specific factor 8 or 9 is missing which helps the blood to clot following an injury. It is estimated that 1 in every 5000 males born are affected by this disease. According to the Haemophilia Federation of India (HFI) data, there are 18000 haemophilia patients registered in the 85 Haemophilia Chapters across the country.

Approximately 150 patients and their relatives attended the function and Director Dr William Bhatti encouraged the patients. Expert lectures were delivered by Dr M Joseph John, Dr.Chepsy Philip DM and Dr.Suvir Singh DM.

As per the study conducted a CMC based on the registry data, 211 patients are from Punjab, (175 patients with Hemophilia A (91.3%) and 36 (8.7%) with Hemophilia B, of them 62.5% were having severe haemophilia. 83.5% of the sever haemophilia A leading to severe joint deformities. Transfusion transmitted infections were found in 24 (18.3%). This is largely due to plasma transfusions in the early days when clotting factor concentrates were not available. The current median age of the group was 22 years against a national average of 27.6 years. As per the population of Punjab, the estimated number of patients with haemophilia should be 2844. However, only 7.4 % of the estimated cases of PwH are diagnosed in Punjab.

Haemophilia in India is a grossly under diagnosed disorder, mainly due to lack of awareness and diagnostic facilities in this country. PWH faces long term joint deformities and early death. Persons with haemophilia (PWH), if diagnosed and managed in time, can get a normal life contributing to the society like a normal person. The best treatment available is anti haemophilic factor (AHF). The government of Punjab though the national health mission (NHM) is making factors available in all the three medical colleges and CMC Ludhiana. CMC Ludhiana and PGI Chandigarh have been chosen as the nodal center for training for the doctors in Punjab.

With advancements in long acting factors and other molecules to prevent bleeding and gene therapy round the corner, there is much hope for patients suffering from Haemophilia. The team felt that the coming day of patients suffering from haemophilia in Punjab is bright.