World Federation of Hemophilia team visits HWSK

KARACHI: A World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) team recently visited the Hemophilia Welfare Society Karachi (HWSK), Sindh’s only state-of-the-art hemophilia care facility as part of its Medical Twinning Program.

The WFH delegation was led by Dr. Pierre Fontana from the Hemophilia Treatment Center in Switzerland.

The Twinning Program facilitates partnerships between hemophilia centres worldwide to enhance treatment and diagnosis standards. HWSK’s centre is recognised as an emerging facility under this initiative.

The program distinguishes between "established" centres in developed world and "emerging" centres in the developing regions, to foster collaboration through the exchange of expertise and best practices.

This initiative covers areas such as diagnosis, treatment, managing complications, and holistic care, with an emphasis on sustainability and capacity-building.

Dr. Fontana was joined by Rana Saifi, WFH Regional Manager for the Middle East, and Dr. Dure Naz Jamal, Secretary of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority and Chairman of HWSK’s Medical Advisory Board.

The team met with the local medical staff and patients, reaffirming their dedication to improving hemophilia care in Pakistan.

HWSK founder and CEO Raheel Ahmed termed the visit an important step towards collaboration with the Geneva Hemophilia Treatment Center, as part of the WFH’s Twinning Program.

The visiting experts conducted a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to improve hemophilia care and ensuring sustainable practices.

Mr Ahmed said the partnership between HWSK as an emerging centre and Geneva as an established one provides a valuable chance to exchange knowledge and refine practices in diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive hemophilia care.

"The WFH Twinning Program creates a network that supports emerging centres like ours in improving patient outcomes, building capacity, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of hemophilia care. We are grateful to be part of this global initiative that promotes growth and learning across borders," he said.