The first-ever World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Global Summit for women and girls with bleeding disorders (WGBDs) was a great success, with participants from all around the world coming together to open a dialogue on an important topic that is only now getting the attention it deserves. To keep the discussion going, the WFH will be holding the second Global Summit for WGBDs from July 8 to 10, 2021. This virtual event will provide education on the realities of WGBDs worldwide, and will give participants a unique opportunity to gain insights on care, treatment, advocacy, and the empowerment of women with a bleeding disorder.
The theme of the summit is the lifecycle of comprehensive care for WGBDs. Covered topics will include the delivery of care, patient experiences, family experiences, and what tools can be used to take action to improve the quality of life of WGBDs. Participants can expect to learn more about the importance of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs), in the comprehensive care team; the level of stigma girls, women, and their families face; the health outcomes for WGBD; reproductive choices for women with bleeding disorders from the patient and the expert point of view; the power of giving a voice to WGBD; and options to address the disparities in care, treatment, and diagnosis.
It’s such a novel experience to have something solely dedicated to women with bleeding disorders—carry on, more speakers, more topics!
- Harriet Caldwell-Nichols, Participant from first WFH Global Summit on WGBDs
The summit will include plenaries, educational sessions, and other types of sessions—such as meet-the-experts segments and hot topic exchanges—where participants will be able to interact together on specific topics. A new feature for the summit is the addition of workshops that will offer practical skills, and will facilitate the sharing of best practices for members of both hemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) and national member organizations (NMOs). And, of course, there will be many opportunities for participants to network.
Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.
- Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy, organizational development experts
For more information on the WFH Global Summit for women and girls with bleeding disorders (WGBDs), please contact Luisa Durante at [email protected]. To register, please click here.
This event was made possible through the support of Hemophilia of Georgia and the National Hemophilia Foundation.