World Hemophilia Day 2023- Theme, History, And Significance

World Hemophilia Day is celebrated every year on April 17 to raise awareness of bleeding disorders like hemophilia. This year, the theme for hemophilia awareness month is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global Standard of Care.” Read on for more details on World Hemophilia Day 2023. 

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder in which the blood fails to clot normally, resulting in both spontaneous and post-injury or surgical bleeding. It is a rare condition with few but critical patients, and it has historically been a challenge. The most significant risk factor for hemophilia is having a family member with the disorder. In most cases, males are considerably more likely than females to have this condition. Therefore, World Hemophilia Day is celebrated every year to spread awareness and call for better care, prevention, and treatment. 

Theme For World Hemophilia Day 2023 

The World Hemophilia Day theme for 2023 is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the Global Standard of Care.” Here are some key points that you should know about the theme for this year. 

1. The aim is to speak out in favour of providing better access to care and treatment for individuals with hemophilia. 
2. It focuses on finding better bleeding control and prevention methods. 
3. Implement ayurvedic and home-based treatments to provide a quality life. 

What is Hemophilia? 

Hemophilia is a rare illness in which the blood does not clot normally. This happens due to a lack of blood-clotting proteins. For instance, when someone gets a little cut or injury, the bleeding stops within 5 minutes. This is due to the fact that blood can clot at the injury spot, constraining further bleeding. Normally, blood does not clot in this rare situation due to a lack of blood-clotting proteins. 

What happens now is that the amount of bleeding varies based on the degree of deficiency. Hemophilia can cause gum bleeding or severe menstrual bleeding in individuals. After mild traumas or dental extractions, the bleeding frequently lasts longer. Hemophilia can also appear as persistent bleeding following minor injuries or tooth extractions.

History of World Hemophilia Day  

The following are the major points that shed light on the history of the day. 

1. The day was first celebrated in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia to honour its founder, Frank Schnabel. 
2. The condition was first noticed in the 10th century, when individuals began to notice a disproportionate number of male deaths from seemingly minor injuries. 
3. Earlier, hemophilia was referred to as abulcasis. The condition was not curable due to a lack of technological advancements.
4. Generally, an anticoagulant was prescribed to treat an illness. During that period, an anticoagulant was prevalent among royal families. However, the anticoagulant thins the blood and worsens the condition of individuals.
5. In 1803, Philadelphia's Dr. John Conrad Otto concluded that the disease was passed down from mothers to boys while doing his research on “bleeders.”
6. In 1937, he classified hemophilia as a type A or type B hereditary condition. However, effective treatment was not established at that time. 

Significance of World Hemophilia Day

According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, more than 75% of the people living with hemophilia have yet to be discovered and diagnosed. Therefore, the goal of World Haemophilia Day is to educate people about hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders in order to enhance and sustain treatment for people with hereditary bleeding disorders worldwide. 

The WFH is in collaboration with healthcare practitioners, governments, and its global network of National Member Organizations across 147 countries. The aim is to equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to detect, support, and treat persons living with bleeding disorders.

Is Hemophilia Covered in Health Insurance? 

Health insurance is a type of insurance that provides financial protection against medical emergencies. The insurance sector in India is regulated by IRDAI. According to the guidelines by IRDAI, insurers are not liable to reject claims for genetic disorders like hemophilia. However, there are some diseases that are not covered under a health insurance plan. Therefore, when purchasing an insurance policy, ensure that you read the inclusions and exclusions carefully. Always confirm the list of diseases that are covered under a health plan before purchasing to avoid claim rejections. 

Final Words

World Hemophilia Day 2023 is observed on April 17 every year. The day is celebrated to spread awareness regarding bleeding ailments and genetic disorders such as hemophilia. The day was first observed by the World Federation of Hemophilia to mark the birth anniversary and honour Frank Schnabel.

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