To The Editor:
I am writing to inform you and your readers about the World Federation
of Hemophilia (WFH) and, in particular, about its Musculoskeletal
Committee. The WFH is an international nonprofit organization of
medical and nonmedical volunteers dedicated to improving the quality
of musculoskeletal care of individuals with hemophilia and related
disorders.
The WFH was founded in 1963 by patients, their families, and
health-care professionals from all disciplines involved in hemophilia
care. In 1981, a group of interested orthopaedic surgeons created
the Musculoskeletal Committee of the World Federation of Hemophilia.
This committee has attracted members from all over the world, including
specialists in rehabilitation medicine, rheumatology, and physiotherapy.
The Musculoskeletal Committee meets annually. Every two years,
we meet as an individual group at the Musculoskeletal Congress,
and, in alternate years, we convene at the biennial International
Congress of the World Federation of Hemophilia. The roles of the
committee are to educate, to exchange experiences, and to promote
research and training in the methods of treatment of the musculoskeletal
complications of hemophilia. In addition to attending scientific meetings,
members of the committee visit developing countries to provide individual
help, teaching, and training to colleagues, patients, and families;
organize summer camps for patients; and publish research and review
articles in scientific journals such as Haemophilia.
Membership is open to any health-care professional with an interest
in the musculoskeletal management of hemophilic patients.
The WFH calls upon the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm of many
of the world's leading hemophilia experts from both the medical
and lay communities. We rely upon their commitment to develop hemophilia
services, to run workshops, to train fellows, to serve on various
committees, to write articles and papers, to raise funds, and to guide
the Federation's activities. The WFH works closely with government
officials, pharmaceutical partners, and bodies such as the World
Health Organization to accomplish its goals. It is only through
our strong international network that we are able to make qualitative
and quantitative improvements to hemophilia care and treatment around
the world.
For additional information, the reader is invited to visit our
Web site at www.wfh.org.
E. Carlos Rodriguez-Merchan, M.D., Ph.D.
Chairman, Musculoskeletal Committee of the
World Federation of Hemophilia
Capitan Blanco Argibay 21-G-3A
28029 Madrid, Spain