KNH partners with the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) on disease management

By Cynthia Cherono & Marian Moraa

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly.

This more often than not leads to spontaneous bleeding following injuries or surgery. Blood contains many proteins called clotting factors that can help stop bleeding.

People with hemophilia have low levels of either factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9).

The severity of hemophilia that a person has is determined by the number of factors in the blood. The lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur which can lead to serious health problems.

In rare cases, a person can develop hemophilia later in life. The majority of cases involve middle-aged or elderly people or young women who have recently given birth or are in the later stages of pregnancy. This condition often resolves with appropriate treatment.

On Friday 28th July 2022, Kenyatta National Hospital officials hosted a team from the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) led by their

President, Mr. Caesar Garrido to engage in collaboration on the management of the disease.

The team also benchmarked how the services are offered following a successful circumcision for Hemophilia patients in March 2022. KNH hemophilia and bleeding disorder clinic is one of the clinics that carry a bigger burden of patients with a rare condition and because of that, the management after a successful engagement launched the clinic in 2014.

This was through the support of donors to be able to provide comprehensive care to patients with hemophilia and bleeding disorders.

The clinic serves both adult and pediatric patients, is located in Clinic 17, and runs from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

The success of this clinic hinges on support from the KNH management, the Kenya Haemophilia Association (KHA), and donation of factors by the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH).

KNH Director, Medical Services Dr. William Sigilai says the collaboration will bring immense benefits to both the hospital and patients at large.

During the meeting, Ms. Anguche Roseline - Nurse in charge of the Haemophilia clinic thanked the visiting team for exhibiting care for patients and for investing in KNH.

Some of the services being offered at KNH’s Hemophilia clinic include;

1. Review of new patients who present with bleeding disorder and need a diagnosis

2. Infusion of a factor (either factor VIII (8) or factor IX (9)) to patients with hemophilia on follow up 3. Review of existing patients who present with bleeds and offer initial management (icepack, analgesic, splinting of limb where necessary as well as on-demand factor administration)

4. Follow-up and administration of Emicizumab (a monoclonal antibody that has been developed for patients with Factor 8 deficiency)

5. Daily review and factor administration of patients admitted to the wards

6. Participating in training (in and out of the hospital) to capacity build health care team to manage