The WFH works closely with members of the inherited bleeding disorders community in Venezuela, with the goal of helping them achieve sustainable care. Efforts in the country include collaborating with the national member organization (NMO)—the Asociación Venezolana para la Hemofilia—and leading WFH programs, such as the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program and country programs. The medical community in Venezuela also collaborates with the WFH, by submitting data to the Annual Global Survey (AGS) and by participating in the World Bleeding Disorders Registry (WBDR).
The boy from Aragua State experienced a remarkable turnaround in his health and daily life thanks to non-factor replacement therapy donated by the Program. Diagnosed with a bleeding disorder at a young age, he has been under medical care since 2007, facing numerous challenges along the way. At just five years old, he suffered a severe bleeding episode after biting his tongue, which required an urgent blood transfusion. Over the years, he underwent different therapies—including an immune tolerance treatment (ITI) in 2013 that had to be stopped due to difficulties in following the regimen. He restarted the treatment in 2016 but continued to live with regular acute bleeds.
In April 2022, doctors started treating the boy with non-factor replacement therapy. Almost immediately, his condition improved. Since starting this therapy, he has experienced fewer bleeding episodes—and this has allowed him to live a more normal life. Hemophilia forced him to abandon his studies after only the second year of high school. Now, with his health more stable, he has been able to resume his education and is on track to graduate from high school.
The boy’s story highlights the life-changing impact of WFH support. Thanks to programs focused on making sustainable care possible—and product donations provided by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program—young people with bleeding disorders in emerging economies can look forward to brighter futures.
The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program has donated over 149,000 IUs of factor and over 653,000 mg of non-factor replacement therapy to Venezuela since 2015. Over 8,000 IUs of factor, and over 190,000 mg of non-factor replacement therapy were donated in 2024 alone. 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, our Contributor. To learn more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, visit www.treatmentforall.org.
