World Federation of Hemophilia
Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) is a leader in supporting global initiatives designed to support people with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. There are several ways HoG supports the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), including through funding of programs that impact people with bleeding disorders throughout the world. These programs provide critical health care services, life-saving medications, and needed medical supplies to people with bleeding disorders around the globe.
Since 2007, HoG has provided significant financial and programmatic support to the World Federation of Hemophilia. Below are some examples of WFH programs that Hemophilia of Georgia has supported:
- Humanitarian Aid Fund
The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program has grown to become the largest distributor of donated treatment products in the world. In the early years HoG supported by coordinating the shipment of clotting factor donated by pharmaceutical companies to developing countries around the world. Today, we fund the program so that tens of thousands of people living with hemophilia access to life-saving treatment and a markedly improved quality of life. Overall, since the inception of the program in 1996, 1.5B of international Units of factor concentrate have been donated and distributed to 112 countries.
- Solidarity Fund
The WFH Solidary Fund was created to ensure the World Federation of Hemophilia can invest in countries, regions, and initiatives that will lead to transformational, sustainable change for people living with inherited bleeding disorders. The Solidarity Fund also ensures the ability to respond quickly to new and emerging needs or challenges and to support communities in crisis. For example, the Solidarity Fund helped support members of our community affected by the conflict in Ukraine that erupted in February 2022.
- Youth Leadership Program
Hemophilia of Georgia understands how important it is to invest in our youth today to develop leaders for tomorrow. This is why we provide financial support for the WFH’s Youth Leadership Program, which helps provide scholarships to educate, share knowledge and experiences, and to empower them with the skills and capacity to assume leadership roles within their organizations as well as the global community.
- Twinning Program
Hemophilia of Georgia participates in the WFH's Twinning Program which pairs hemophilia patient organizations in developing countries with corresponding organizations in developed countries to share knowledge, experience, and best practices. Here are some highlights of HoG’s Twinning’s:
1999 - 2004 HoG worked with the Sociedad Chilena de la Hemofilia in Chile
2005 - 2009 HoG worked with the Sociedad Hondureña de Hemofilia in Honduras.
2007, the WFH named Hemophilia of Georgia and the Sociedad Hondureña de Hemofilia as their Twins of the Year based on the accomplishments of the two organizations.
2011 - 2015 Hemophilia of Georgia worked with the Fundación Nacional de Hemofilia Bolivia. The goals of this twinning included advocating for access to diagnostic services, creating a registry of people with bleeding disorders, developing educational materials, and building the capacity of the organization to better serve the needs of those affected by bleeding disorders. On September 10, 2015, the Ministry of Health of Bolivia officially announced that it would provide free factor to children diagnosed with hemophilia in Bolivia.
2019 - 2022 HoG Youth Leaders worked with emerging youth leaders from the Fundación Apoyo Al Hemofilico in the Dominican Republic to to share knowledge in areas such as youth leadership, good governance activities, effective communication and public speaking to help foster the next generation of leaders in the inherited bleeding disorders community.
- Cornerstone Initiative
Through the Cornerstone Initiative, the WFH aims to improve access to diagnosis and treatment in the most underserved areas of the world -- those in which little to no treatment exists.
Since Hemophilia of Georgia began supporting the Cornerstone Initiative in 2020, eight countries have benefited from guidance and expertise provided by the WFH to improve diagnosis, establish access to care, and build capacity of the national patient organization. Over the last two years, over 300 patients have been diagnosed in Cornerstone countries, and training has been provided for over 600 healthcare providers, NMO leaders, patients, and families.
- Women and Girls Initiative
HoG’s support and partnership with the WFH’s Women and Girls program is transforming lives through education, engagement, and by increasing equitable access to diagnosis and care for women and girls with bleeding disorders. As a result, we are seeing greater contribution and engagement of women and girls with bleeding disorders within the community.
- World Hemophilia Day
The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) designated April 17 as World Hemophilia Day. Hemophilia of Georgia celebrates this day to raise awareness and funds for people with inherited bleeding disorders. To learn more about World Hemophilia Day, please visit their website. Hemophilia of Georgia also encourages everyone to consider making a donation to the World Federation of Hemophilia.