Manila City Council backs awareness drive about hemophilia
THE Manila City Council, led by its presiding officer Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto, approved a resolution recognizing the observance of World Hemophilia Day today, a practice being observed globally since 1989.
Filed by Councilor Doc Louie Chua, the resolution aims to raise awareness about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders during the National Hemophilia Awareness Month this April. It also aims to assist Manila residents who are suffering from such conditions.
Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. It is an inherited disease, which may lead to spontaneous bleeding in injuries or surgery. People with hemophilia have low levels of clotting factor VIII or IX or XI which are important to stop bleeding.
The intensity of the disease is dependent on the amount of factors in the blood of the person which means the lower the amount, the higher the risk of hemophilia and serious bleeding may occur which can lead to more serious health problems.
According to the study done by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), there are two common types of disease where uncontrolled bleeding occurs.
It also affects children and women even though it is a recessive x-linked trait that affects males.
The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) estimates that about 10,000 Filipinos have hemophilia, and about one million are suffering from Von Willebrand diseases and other blessing disorders.
April 17 is the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of WFH.
