The WFH is engaged in Vietnam through several endeavours—including the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, and programs focusing on access to care and treatment and laboratory quality control—to support the national member organization, hemophilia treatment centres, healthcare practitioners, PWBDs and their families. This strategy has made prophylaxis a reality for the bleeding disorders community.
Thi Mai Nguyen, MD, is Director of the Hematology Centre at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi. She has seen first-hand the transformative impact WFH support has made—especially through the donation of treatment products. Her team has been able to place patients on prophylaxis, perform necessary surgeries, and educate specialists on managing patients during emergencies and surgeries, providing significantly better care than what was possible in the past. Many patients can now self-infuse at home, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.
Bach Quoc Khanh, MD, former Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi, also expresses profound gratitude for the WFH’s support, which includes donated factor and essential education and training. He explains that WFH support has allowed his team to provide better care and is helping the country move along the path to sustainable care.
Patients who are on prophylaxis can bring medication to their home for treatment. Patients who receive surgery in other hospitals have access to factor so they can undergo the procedure safely.
—Thi Mai Nguyen, Director of the Hematology Centre at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion
Better care in Vietnam has literally changed lives. Bao, a young man with hemophilia, experienced frequent knee bleeds that threatened his mobility. Thanks to donated factor, he underwent knee-replacement surgery and, three years later, can now walk on his own. Duy Anh Nguyen—a young boy who used to miss school frequently due to bleeds and was afraid to play with his friends—now leads an active life thanks to prophylactic treatment made possible by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program.
The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program has donated over 12.4 million IUs of factor and over 630,000 mg of non-factor replacement therapy to Vietnam since 2015. Over 2.15 million IUs of factor, and nearly 231,000 mg of non-factor replacement therapy were donated in 2023 alone. To find out more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, please click here.