Rs 2 cr for haemophiliacs: CM

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday promised a sum of Rs two crore towards medicines for patients suffering from haemophilia in the State.

Taking part in the walk to create awareness about the congenital disorder that causes uncontrolled bleeding, organised by the Haemophilia Federation (India) here, he promised to keep stock of the medicines in all government hospitals. The genetic disorder that usually affects males and is transmitted from mother to son may lead to disability and can even cause death. Moreover, there is no permanent cure for haemophilia.

Medicines to contain uncontrolled bleeding among patients are very expensive, as they are not manufactured in India. There are as many as 1,573 people suffering from the disorder.
 According to the Haemophilia Federation, one person in a population of 10,000 people suffers from haemophilia. It is saddening that 25 per cent of the world haemophilia population lives in India.  The conditions of Persons With Haemophilia in India are very poor, thus reducing the chance of survival.

In India, 90 per cent of all people with haemophilia are neither aware nor have access to treatment. Patients fail to get treatment even in case of severe bleeding.

Uncontrolled internal bleeding causes pain and results in disability as excessive blood loss damages joints. Lack of safe blood transfusion is another blow to haemophiliacs.

Moreover, education of children suffering from haemophilia is disrupted due to repeated bleeding in joints that necessitate blood transfusions.

Although the Haemophilia Federation has demanded Rs 20 crore towards providing medicines to haemophiliacs in the State, the chief minister has promised to sanction Rs two crore only. Over thousands of people, comprising volunteers, schoolchildren and medical students took part in the Haemophilia awareness rally.