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Haemophiliac Get a Raw Deal

by Medindia Content Team on Apr 20 2006 11:28 AM

Haemophilia is a deadly genetic disorder. Statistics show that in India about1, 00,000 patients suffer from the disease. It is characterised severe mucosal bleeding as a result of the deficiency of the coagulation factor. It is predominantly seen affecting the male population. Usually haemophiliac lack certain proteins in their blood due to which their blood doesn’t clot and their wounds don’t heal.

Patients usually die of internal bleeding. In order to prevent this they have to take a minimum of 1,000 units of anti-haemophiliac factor, which is a life-saving drug. But the sad news is that the drug is not manufactured in India. Executive Director Haemophilia Federation (India), Ranjit Mookerjii says that haemophiliacs, who cannot afford Rs 6,000-Rs 10,000 a month to buy the clotting factor, turn to regular blood transfusions. But the disadvantage is that blood transfusions can expose them to deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis A or C.

In one such instance Vineet Oberoi who was a haemophiliac, contracted the HIV/AIDS virus during a routine blood transfusion. He received the blood transfusion in an army hospital in Delhi cantonment. Tragically, it's not the combination of the two diseases that he's upset about, but the lack of awareness among the people, apathy of the government and the lack of financial aid. He says that though it is a rare disorder it is deadly and needs more research and calls for a drastic step to raise awareness about the disease.


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