National programme on inherited bleeding disorders launched in Oman

The Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) College of Medicine and Health Sciences and the SQU Hospital, in association with the Ministry of Health and Royal Hospital, yesterday launched a national programme on inherited bleeding disorders and a symposium under the auspices of World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH).

Launching the programme, the chief guest, Dr. Hamed Al Salmi, SQU Vice President, said: "The establishment of Sultan Qaboos University and the Hospital is a major achievement of which the Sultanate is very proud. Many serious cases are now treated in the hospital rather than being sent abroad."

He further added: "It is a honour for the University to host a prestigious group of leading experts in the field of haematology."

The programme will facilitate in optimising and providing a structured care for Omani patients suffering from inherited bleeding disorders such as Haemophilia.

The WFH will also help in organising health education programmes, visits by experts, and the supply of coagulation factors in certain instances.

A delegation of experts from WFH and specialists in this discipline are involved in this joint effort which include Dr Assad Haffar from Canada, Dr. Mammen Chandy and Dr Uma Khanduri from India, Dr Paul Giangrande from UK and Dr Zakila Al Lamki from SQU Hospital, Oman On the first day, experts presented papers and discussed various issues relating to haemophilia such as early diagnosis of bleeding disorders, management of haemophilia, genetics of haemophilia and the role and development of haemophilia societies.

Inherited bleeding disorders are mostly genetic disorders that occur due to the absence of certain proteins in the blood of individuals.

The commonest types of inherited bleeding disorders are von Willebrand's disorder, Haem-ophilia A and Haemophilia B also known as Christmas Disease.