The National Nutrition Council MIMAROPA Region joins the observance of 2021 National Hemophilia Awareness Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 1478, s. 2008. Annually, the month of April is recognized as National Hemophilia Awareness Month effective 3 April 2008.

Hemophilia is a rare, genetic bleeding disorder wherein blood is unable to clot normally due to insufficient clotting factors, type of protein present in the blood necessary to control bleeding. Specifically, people with hemophilia lack clotting factor VIII (anti-hemophilic factor) or clotting factor IX (Christmas factor), affecting men but rarely the women.

Some signs and symptoms that you need to have checked to determine if you are affected by this rare disorder includes:

• Presence of bleeding
  • Into joints which may result to swelling and pain or tightness in the joints; affecting knees, elbows, and ankles,
  • Into skin through bruising or muscle and soft tissue leading to blood build-up,
  • Into mouth and gums; Continuous bleeding during tooth removal,
  • After circumcision,
  • After encountering shots like vaccination,
  • In the head of an infant after a strenuous delivery,
  • In the urine or stool, and
  • Recurrent and heavy nosebleeds.
• Death may transpire if bleeding is left untreated or through presence of bleeding in vital organs such as brain.

To live your life to the fullest, the National Hemophilia Foundation’s National Prevention Program provided the following recommendations:

• Have an annual check-up at a hemophilia treatment center,
• Get vaccinated,
• Treat bleeding immediately and properly,
• Be physically active and attain or maintain normal weight, and
• Regularly conduct test for blood-borne illnesses – screening tests and clotting factor tests.

Through nationwide awareness on hemophilia, Filipinos will defeat the disorder while protecting all affected individuals against abuse, discrimination and violence.

(NKSL)

Sources:

Center for Diseases Control (2020). Hemophilia. Accessed from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/facts.html

Official Gazette (2008). Proclamation No. 1478, s. 2008. Accessed from https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2008/04/03/proclamation-no-1478-s-2008/