24 Apr 2016

Batswana have been urged to provide care to children and patients of hemophilia.

Speaking during the World Hemophilia Day in Gaborone , the director of the paediatric hematology and oncology programme of excellence at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), Dr Alan Anderson said there was a struggle of so many children and adults with life threatening bleeding disorders, including haemophilia and urged parents to be on the lookout.

Dr Anderson said hemophilia has a global incidence of 1 in 10 000, saying it was a major health care issue around the world.

He said while the standard of care for children and adults with haemophilia was high in Botswana, there was still more work to be done.

He urged parents to be on guard to assist children before it got severe, saying the greater health concern was deep bleeding inside the body, (internal bleeding) that could damage ones organs and tissues, adding that could be life-threatening.

Giving information on hemophilia, Dr Anderson said it was a rare disorder in which the blood does not clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood-clotting proteins.

He said a patient with hemophilia, may bleed for a longer time after an injury than one would, if their blood clotted normally.

Dr Anderson stated that hemophilia was an inherited (genetic) disorder, saying it was not contagious.

He stated that there was no cure yet, adding that with proper treatment and self-care, most people with hemophilia could maintain an active, healthy and productive lifestyle.

He explained that a patient with hemophilia may experience spontaneous unexplained and excessive bleeding from cuts or injuries, pain, swelling or tightness in their joint, blood in their urine or stool, nosebleeds without a known cause, adding that there could be unexplained irritability in infants.

Dr Anderson pointed out that the standard of health care in Botswana continues to be a shining example to the rest of Africa.

He said there was an adequate diagnostic blood tests and treatment medications available for patients with hemophilia in regional health centres.

He said more than 50 per cent of patients have the opportunity to receive crucial infusions designed to help prevent bleeding episodes.

Dr Anderson stated that the hematology and oncology programme at PMH started in 2007, with the assistance of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centres, saying since that time the children with life threatening diseases in Botswana have been receiving special care

He said the programme has more than 50 children and adults with hemophilia. ENDS