The Haemophilia Society of Singapore was formed in 1985 with the purpose of:

1) Educating the haemophiliacs and their families, about management of haemophilia.
2) Subsidising the cost of treatment.
3) Increasing awareness of haemophilia among the public and health givers.

The founding members were the haemophiliacs and their family members, and through the years, some friends were recruited to help in the society. Health care givers, viz. Doctors and nurse were also co-opted, and from this nucleus, funds were raised with the help of charitable foundations, sympathetic individuals, private golf clubs, and even a temple, the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho temple.

The first Haemophilia Treatment centre was set up at NUH, with the help of Professor Han Pin in 1987. Subsequent centre was set up at SGH in 1998, and a Haemophilia Endowment Fund at KKMH in 2000. Increasing cost of Factor 8 and 9 has always been an important variable in the lives of haemophiliacs, as this is the only and life saving treatment. Despite hospital subsidy and the society’s Haemophilia Endowment Fund, all families find it increasingly difficult to give optimum home therapy to prevent crippling of joints, and giving the haemophilia a chance at normalcy, as in other developed nations.

Fund raising distracts the society from its other functions viz. Education through meet the experts forums, organising interactive sessions with members of the public, recreational outing, and visits to neighbouring sister societies e.g. Malaysia.

Assistance has also come from the World Federation of Haemophilia of which the society is a member since 1986.

The new millennium offers new hope for treatment of haemophilia, but nothing can be achieved without the wholehearted support of the government, care givers (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, podiatrists, counsellors), the haemophiliac and family members.

Yours sincerely,

DR TAN HOOI HWA
VICE PRESIDENT