WFH Humanitarian Aid Program

Personal stories underline successes in Central and South America

The World Federation of Hemophilia works with bleeding disorders communities in countries all around the world to help them along the road to sustainable care. Through programs, training and educational materials, the WFH makes a real difference. This difference can be seen in many ways—including through the stories of people with bleeding disorders who have been helped by the federation. Today, we hear the stories of several people from South America who have been touched by the WFH, particularly by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program.

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WFH support in South America has come in many ways, including from the WFH Humanitarian Program, the WFH Path to Access to Care and Treatment (PACT) Program, the International External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS), and more. 

The following stories were featured on the WFH News page in the past. They each cover the story of someone from South America who was touched by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program.

Suriname

Sheldon Simson, diagnosed with severe hemophilia A in Suriname, suffered joint damage due to limited medical access. Now nearly 40, he uses crutches and a scooter. In 2021, donated factor from the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program allowed him to start prophylaxis, significantly reducing his bleeds to just two in four months. Read the full story, click here.

Guyana

Mohammad, a 42-year-old with hemophilia A in Guyana, faced stigma, joint damage, and career challenges due to a lack of awareness and medical support. Thanks to the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program and local efforts, he now receives regular prophylactic treatment, enabling him to manage bleeds effectively, undergo a successful surgery, and lead a more normal life. Read the full story, click here.

Nicaragua

Isaías, a 27-year-old from Nicaragua with severe hemophilia A, suffered a traumatic eye injury that threatened his vision. Fortunately, he was saved through an immediate factor infusion made possible by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program. Thanks to donated factor and additional treatments, he made a full recovery. Read the full story, click here.

Venezuela

A 21-year-old man with severe hemophilia B in Venezuela was hospitalized following a car accident, but thanks to factor donated by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, he received timely treatment and avoided permanent joint damage. After a series of infusions, he was discharged and is now undergoing physiotherapy, with a full recovery and retention of mobility expected. Read the full story, click here.

Honduras

Born in Honduras, Felix Abener Flores Oliva was diagnosed with hemophilia at age six, after a head injury as an infant led to uncontrolled bleeding, several surgeries, and months in the hospital due to limited resources and awareness of hemophilia. Thanks to support from the Hemophilia Foundation of Honduras and donated factor provided by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, his quality of life has improved; he remains determined to stay positive and serve as a role model for others with bleeding disorders. Read the full story, click here.

To find out more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, please click here.

About the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program

The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program improves the lack of access to care and treatment by providing much-needed support for people with inherited bleeding disorders in developing countries. By providing patients with a more predictable and sustainable flow of humanitarian aid donations, the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program makes it possible for patients to receive consistent and reliable access to treatment and care. None of this would be possible without the generous support of Sanofi and Sobi, our Founding Visionary Contributors; Bayer, CSL Behring and Roche, our Visionary Contributors; Grifols, our Leadership Contributor; and Takeda and Japan Blood Products Organization, our Contributors. To learn more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, visit www.treatmentforall.org.

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Disclaimer

The information on the WFH website is provided for general information purposes only. The WFH does not engage in the practice of medicine and under no circumstances recommends particular treatment for specific individuals. For diagnosis or consultation on a specific medical problem, the WFH recommends that you contact your physician or local treatment centre. Before administering any products, the WFH urges patients to check dosages with a physician or hemophilia centre staff, and to consult the pharmaceutical company’s printed instructions.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, the WFH does not guarantee the information is accurate, and is not responsible in any way whatsoever for damages arising out of the use of this website or any of the information contained herein.

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References and links to other websites or references to other organizations, products, services, or publications do not constitute endorsement or approval by the WFH. The WFH is not responsible and assumes no liability for the content of any linked websites.

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Unauthorized solicitations – Warning

The WFH has been made aware of various correspondences—circulated via e-mail and telephone—coming from individuals impersonating WFH staff or falsely stating that they are associated with the WFH. These correspondences, which may seek to obtain money using the name of someone affiliated with the WFH, are fraudulent and come from outside of our organization.

If you receive a suspicious solicitation, exercise extreme caution. In the case of an email, look at the email address to see if it looks suspicious (for example, all WFH emails come from @wfh.org).

We are asking you to remain vigilant, and if you have any doubts about the correspondence, please forward the email to the WFH at [email protected] or call +1 514-875-7944.