World Haemophilia Day 2023: Theme, History, Importance and facts

Every year on April 17, people worldwide recognise World Haemophilia Day. The day is dedicated to haemophilia patients in order to promote awareness and help them have a better life. Haemophilia is a rare disorder in which blood fails to clot correctly due to a lack of blood-clotting proteins. The current goal of International Hemophilia Day is to increase access to specialised care and diagnoses. World Hemophilia Day's objective is to unite people with bleeding disorders from all around the world.

World Haemophilia Day 2023 Theme

World Hemophilia Day will be observed on April 17, 2023. Access for All: Prevention of bleeds as the global standard of care is the event's theme this year. Continuing on the topic from the previous year, the community is urged to unite in 2023 to push local policymakers and governments for greater access to treatment and care, with a focus on better bleeding control and prevention for all individuals with bleeding disorders (PWBDs). To improve those people's quality of life, this involves the use of home-based treatment as well as preventative treatment.

The WFH provides a special and personal narrative site for the bleeding disorders community each year so that people from all around the world can unite and celebrate the day. This portal allows people to post their own stories and photos, including caregivers and patients. To share their World Hemophilia Day-related tales and activities is the platform's special call to action.

History of World Haemophilia Day

The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH), which was founded by Frank Schnabel, observed the first World Haemophilia Day on April 17, 1989, in his honour. Haemophilia was identified in the 10th century, when individuals began to notice a disproportionate number of male deaths from seemingly minor injuries. At the time, this illness was known as abulcasis. Nevertheless, due to limitations in technology, this could not be treated.

During the time, a sickness that plagued royal families was frequently treated with an anticoagulant, but this medication thins the blood and makes the situation worse. Dr. John Conrad Otto of Philadelphia started studying "bleeders" in 1803, and he eventually came to the conclusion that the illness was passed down from mothers to boys. Haemophilia was categorised as a type A or type B hereditary condition in 1937. Effective treatment, however, hadn't yet been created at that time.

Importance of World Haemophilia Day

In 2000, it was estimated that 4 lakh people, or around one in every 10,000 live births, were affected by this illness worldwide, with just 25% having access to competent treatment. Yet as of 2019, a meta-analysis revealed that there are 11.25 lakh more men in India who suffer from the genetic bleeding disorder. Just 15% of the world's population has access to effective haemophilia treatment, not even in high-income countries.

In low- and middle-income nations, high mortality and morbidity rates are caused by a lack of resources for diagnosis and treatment. World Haemophilia Day activities this year are aimed at persuading the public to support government and policymakers for the provision of better treatment, prevention, and control of bleeds in people with bleeding disorders. This year marks World Haemophilia Day's 31st anniversary.

Few Interesting Facts about Haemophilia

Haemophilia is a hereditary disorder that a child inherits from his or her mother.

Comparing haemophilia C to haemophilia A and haemophilia B, the illness is believed to be less harmful. The regular use of clotting factor is not necessary for haemophilia C patients.

Because disease is genetically carried down from pregnant women to their unborn male children, haemophilia primarily affects men. It is quite uncommon for women to be born with this condition.

Blood tests, such as clotting factor testing or factor assays, can be used to diagnose haemophilia. A bleeding disorder can detect haemophilia and its severity.

One in 5000 men have haemophilia A, the most prevalent and common type of the disorder. In contrast to haemophilia C, which affects one in every 100,000 males, haemophilia B affects one in every 25,000 men.