The Hemophilia Federation (India) on the occasion of World Hemophilia Day organized a Walk-a-thon for the cause of Hemophilia and to raise awareness about this hereditary bleeding disorder. Shri Keshav Desiraju, IAS Secretary, Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, flagged off the Walk at 7.30 hrs from Parliament Street to Tolstoy Marg.
Over 2,000 people participated in the walk-a-ton, which included hemophilia patients and their families, school students, medical fraternities, corporate, volunteers and civil societies. The participants gathered to support the awareness initiative under the recently launched ‘Close the Gap, Treatment for All’ campaign, to educate people on large scale and create awareness among different sections of the society about the disease.
“It is unfortunate that despite of our untiring advocacy drive, filing number of PILs etc, Hemophilia has not been included in the National Health Scheme. However, we are hopeful that the inclusion of comprehensive hemophilia care services in the draft 12th Five Year Plan by the MOHFW, GOI shows silver lining in the hitherto dark scenario,” said Dr. K. Ghosh, President of Hemophilia Federation (India) and Director NIIH, KEM Hospital Mumbai.
Supporting HFI’s initiative, Baxter India, a leading pharmaceutical company distributed an educational scholarship to the Children with Hemophilia, who were the winner of the contest "I Believe I can Fly, with My wings of Belief." In addition, BHEL also distributed 2000 ius of Anti-Hemophilia Factor each to nine patients of Delhi under the Project “HEAL A SOUL”.
“The vast majority of people with hemophilia do not have access to proper care in our country. It is important that we reflect on where we have been, where we want to go, and that together, we can reduce the Gap in care,” added Rtn. Wg. Cdr. (Retd.) SS Roychoudhury, CEO of Hemophilia Federation (India).
On the day, the entire hemophilia community appealed all the concerned authorities, individuals and healthcare professionals including media to join and suport the drive to the recently launched “Close the gap, Treatment for all” campaign.
The participants walked with the spirit and all enthusiasm propagating the
following lines-
Walk for haemophilia to show that you care,
Help the cause so that they can dare.
Your help will go a long way,
to keep a haemophihilic happy and gay.
Hemophilia Federation (India) has been engaged in creating awareness about the disease for last 30 years and has made significant progress in bringing about sustainable treatment throughout India, by training experts in the field for proper diagnosis and management of the disease; lobbying and advocating for adequate supply of safe treatment products; educating and empowering people with bleeding disorders in order to live healthier, longer, and more purposeful lives.
However, there is still much left to be done. In its strategic plan for the coming years, HFI is focusing on training of more and more medical professionals, maximum advocacy and lobbying, capacity building of the youth and women sufferers, and advance treatment for the PWH.
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