KARACHI: A high-level international delegation from the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) has arrived in Pakistan for its very first visit since it started dispatching humanitarian aid for bleeding disorder – hemophilia patients in the country since 2015.
On its 11-day visit, the delegation landed in Karachi on Thursday where the Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK) is hosting them. The delegation will stay in city till November 26th to head towards other cities for a country tour, an official of HWSK told.
Mr. Raheel Ahmed Khan, Founder & CEO Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi, member of National Executive Council HFP/WFH sharing details of the visit told that the delegation comprises of Mr. Cesar Garrido, President of the WFH, Ms. Rana Saifi, WFH Regional Manager (Middle East) and Mr. Philippe Andre De Moerloose.
The WFH holds significant importance in developing nations, including Pakistan and 147 other countries. Their efforts involve providing state-of-the-art treatment through various humanitarian aid programs, empowering NMOs, Hemophilia Bleeding Disorder communities, and healthcare providers with knowledge and resources to recognize, support, and treat individuals living with bleeding disorders within their communities. They also advocate for global collaboration to achieve shared objectives, he shared.
The WFH president Mr. Cesar Garrido will be chief guest at a seminar on “Stakeholders Solidarity with Hemophilia” being organized by the HWSK at a local hotel. Other speakers include Ms. Rana Saifi - Regional Manager (Middle East) WFH, Mr. Salman Abdullah Murad - Dupty Mayor Karachi, Mr. Muhammad Sajid Jokhio - former minister for Social Welfare Sindh, Dr. Faiz Ahmed Mangi - Chief Technical Officer Health Department Govt. of Sindh, Akhtar Shaheen Rind – senior journalist & anchorperson, Ms. Shehrish Fatima - Manager Patient Welfare Association CHK, Dr. Saba Jamal - Director – Indus Hospital & Healthcare Network, Dr. Agha Umer Daraz Khan - Chief Pathologist – Husaini Blood Bank, Dr. Arshi Naz - Assist. Prof. Liaqat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Dr. Durenaz Jamal – head Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, Dr. Samra Waheed – Heamatologist, Manager Regional Blood Centre Karachi (Fatimid Foundation), Dr. Shabneez Hussain – Haematologist head blood transfusion services Indus hospital,Abbas Ali Zaidi – National Member Organisation NMO & President Hemophilia Foundation, Dr. Munira Borhany – professor haematologist & Mr. Anis ur Rehman-President HWSK, Fakhar-e-Alam Zaidi – founder member & finance secretary, Mr. Rana Asghar Ali -VC HWSK and Shahid Dawood – founder general secretary HWSK.
Next day, WFH team will visit model treatment centre of HWSK in Nazimabad where they will be joined by the Sindh caretaker minister health Dr. Saad Khalid Niaz. They will inaugurate HWSK training institute as well followed by a media briefing, Raheel Ahmed Khan further briefed.
He said that WFH and HWSK will explore future need of humanitarian aid, patients empowerment, capacity building, world class treatment, welfare and collaboration opportunities with government departments and stakeholders for strengthening response further so hemophilia population could also live a healthy and stress free life, prevention offcourse, he mentioned.
Mr. Raheel Ahmed Khan told that the WFH has donated 62 million IUs of anti-hemophilia injections in Pakistan which are worth of 62 billion Pakistani rupees approximately for over 4000 patients, however this fulfill approx 15 percent of the national need. We have over 25000 anticipated hemophilia patients and need more such aid or support. We are greatly thankful to the World Federation of Hemophilia for this help and urged to enhance this humanitarian aid so other patients should also get this treatment.
Health Department Sindh first time has provided the HWSK 24 million rupees for treatment of six patients only which needs to be enhanced on a regular basis, he stressed.
Hemophilia is a congenital and commonly inherited life-threatening bleeding disorder that arises due to insufficient blood clotting factors. This condition significantly impacts patients' daily lives, leading to a substantial health burden in terms of disability-adjusted life years and premature mortality, caused by both internal and external bleeds.
Since 2016, the Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK), a patient-centric nonprofit organization in Sindh, has been pivotal in delivering essential care and support to over 1200 registered patients, among an expected 5230 individuals affected by Hemophilia & other bleeding disorders. It has also established a Framework Agreement with the Health Department Govt. of Sindh aimed at improving the condition of Hemophilia and other bleeding disorder patients in Sindh.
