VISAKHAPATNAM: Haemophilia is a genetic disorder due to which the patients suffer from the problem of their blood not clotting either internally or due to an external injury.

Thirteen factors are needed to make the blood clot and it does not clot when factors VIII and XI are lacking in the blood. These two factors in the shape of lyophilised powder have to be injected into a patient to make the blood clot.

However, these injections are expensive, each dose costing Rs.1,500 and sometimes three doses have to be administered in a month.

"Many parents are in a helpless state as they cannot afford the cost. Some even don't have the money to travel to Visakhapatnam for diagnosis and treatment.

It is for the Government to come to the rescue of the patients", said president of Visakhapatnam chapter of Haemophilia Society and a noted surgeon V. Chandrasekharam at a press conference organised on Monday on the eve of World Haemophilia Day being observed on Tuesday.

Free physiotherapy

A. Subramanyeswara Rao of Kanaka Durga Nursing Home who is providing free physiotherapy to haemophilia patients, Bala Koteswara Rao of Chaitanya Medical Centre who is conducting tests for haemophilia patients and secretary of the association K. Saibaba also explained about haemophilia.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the past ordered that the Medical Department must help the haemophilia patients but now the entire funds under the Government's Arogyasree programme were being spent on heart surgeries for children.

The haemophilia patients too must be extended help by the Government and also brought under the health insurance, said Dr. Chandrasekharam.

This was in tune with the World Federation of Haemophilia's vision of treatment for all.

Children suffer deformities due to haemophilia and must be included under the physically handicapped category and extended benefits, the association demanded.

The local chapter of Haemophilia Society sought help from the donors to help the poor haemophilia patients by providing money for each dose of medicine, the child's education and medical and other expenses.

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