The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rs. 5 lakh released for State Haemophilia Society

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 17, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 5 lakh released for State Haemophilia Society

Staff Reporter

Members told to come up with project to help patients suffering from the disease

Bangalore: Minister for Science and Technology, Planning and Small Savings Ramachandra Gowda on Sunday announced the release of Rs. 5 lakh to the Haemophilia Society to help those suffering from the blood disorder.

Speaking at a function organised to observe "World Haemophilia Day," by the Bangalore chapter of the society, Mr. Gowda asked the members to come up with a project to help patients of haemophilia and promised that the Government would take steps to implement the project. "I will ensure that the project is implemented to benefit patients suffering from blood disorder," Mr. Gowda said.

He said he would request the Chief Minister and the Minister for Health and Family Welfare to support the Haemophilia Society so that they can procure clotting Factor 8 and Factor 9, which are essential for those suffering from the disorder.

"Efforts should be made for better prevention so that it is not passed on from the mother to child," he said. Haemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that usually occurs in males because of the inactivity of or deficiency in clotting factors in the blood. These people have less than 1 per cent of the factor while in a normal person it ranges from 50 per cent to 150 per cent. Suresh Hanagvadi, President of the All India Haemophilia Society, said the "factors" for management of the disease are available free in government and district hospitals. But they are given only to those who have a BPL card.

He urged the Government to make them available to everyone who is in need of them so that the disease can be properly managed. Mr. Hanagvadi suggested that the government organise training for government doctors as most of them are not aware of the blood disorder.

Ashish Ballal, former hockey player and Arjuna Award winner, lauded the efforts of the society in helping patients acquire medicines.

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