CHANDIGARH FEBRUARY 5: Keeping in view the exorbitant hike in the cost of treatment being meted out by the Patients with Hemophilia (PWHs), the Hemophilic Welfare Society of Chandigarh today demanded that Punjab government and Chandigarh administration must take steps to provide free treatment to the patients on the pattern of Delhi, Haryana and Jammu-Kashmir.
Addressing the gathering of patients during one-day open clinic for ensuring effective treatment and management of the disease for PHW here at the Community Centre in Sector 15 on Sunday, the office bearers of the society including President Dr VK Chabra, Finance Secretary Dr Maghar Singh, Auditor S Balbir Singh and Office Secretary Dr Harpreet Singh rued that despite of the fact that it was a very serious disease the successive governments both at central and state level have hardly taken any step to provide relief to the PWHs. The speakers said that though after a legal battle few state governments like that of Delhi, Jammu-Kashmir and Haryana have agreed to provide free treatment to patients at various hospital in their respective states but the Punjab government and Administration of Chandigarh is yet to wake up from deep slumber. They demanded that keeping in view the humanitarian aspect these governments must ensure adequate and befitting help to the needy patients.
Sharing his views Dr Vijay Kaul a founder Member of Indian Haemophilia federation urged the UT Administration of Chandigarh and Punjab government to immediately extend the facility to provide free factor VIII and IX to the PWHs as being given in the states of Delhi, Haryana and Jammu-Kashmir. Dr Kaul emphasized on the need to provide necessary backup support to the affected parents to enable them to cope up with the tremendous psychological stress from the day one, when their child was diagnosed as a Hemophiliac. He said that to achieve this objective NGOs and other social and voluntary organizations could play a vital role in overcoming the stress encountered by these helpless parents for none of their fault adding that the PWHs should also be encouraged and motivated considerably to lead a happy normal life, by giving them timely care and treatment. Dr Kaul also stressed that concerted efforts should be made by the parents, teachers and medical fraternity to boost the morale of PWHs so as to lead them a normal life without developing a feeling of inferiority complex amongst them.
In his address, Assistant Professor Department Blood Transfusion Medicine Dr. Suchet Sachdeva attributed this disease purely as genetic disorder and had nothing to do with a good or bad luck. He pointed out that it is the sacred duty of the parents to prepare their children psychologically to muster enough courage to bear the burnt of the disease. He advised the PWHs to get them regularly medically checked so as to maintain the baseline level of the factor VIII and IX. He also urged the society to update the data of the PWHs for the research and reference purposes. He also stressed upon the doctors of the PGI who were present on the occasion, to regularly hold such open clinics for the well being and the benefit of the PWHs.
As many as 250 patients were clinically checked up and AHF VIII was also infused to the needy PWHs by Dr. Pallvi Saini, Physiotherapist. She also practically demonstrated few exercises to the PWHs for improving the mobility of the joints. Beside this the psychological clinic was also held.
Expressing her views after inaugurating the camp Mrs Raj Bala Malik the Mayor of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, said that she was really indebted to the society for organizing this medical camp. She assured the Society to extend all possible help and cooperation for this noble cause in the future too.
Earlier, Dr. Maghar Singh, Finance Secretary presented the financial report of the society for the year 2011-12 on the occasion and highlighted the achievements of the society. The Executive body of the society was also unanimously elected on the occasion.
