Hamad Medical Corporation marks World Hemophilia Day

Hemophilia patients and their family and friends recently gathered  in Doha to mark World Hemophilia Day under the slogan “Let’s Live With Hope, for a Pain Free Life”.

Hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation, the two day event, including scientific sessions and activities for patients and their families, took place at the Hilton Doha. It also hosted visiting UK experts – from KingsCollegeHospital and OxfordUniversity - as well as HMC hematologists who spoke about the disease and the latest research into the condition.

The aim of the event was also to educate patients and their families on hemophilia, its causes and how to avoid the disease and its complications. Aside from informative lectures, patients were also taught important skills for self care as well as given the chance to meet others living the disease.

“Hemophilia is an inherited disease and about one in every 10000 people is born with hemophilia. If one of the parents was a carrier of hemophilia gene, then he/ she can pass the disease to their child. In Qatar 50 people have the condition,” said Dr. Ahmad Abdulaziz, a clinical pharmacist at Hamad GeneralHospital.

Symptoms of this disorder are excessive bleeding and easy bruising.  Bleeding can occur on the body’s surface and the signs could be nosebleeds for no obvious reason, heavy bleeding from a minor cut or bleeding from a cut that resumes after stopping for a short time. 

Hemophilia is generally inherited by males from gene-carrying mothers, though 30 percent of cases occur randomly making it a disease that can afflict anyone regardless of family history.