Hemophilia of Georgia Receives Twin of the Year Award from World Federation of Hemophilia
August 11, 2008
At the recent World Federation of Hemophilia meeting, Hemophilia of Georgia was recognized by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) with its annual Twin of the Year Award for its outstanding involvement in the WFH's Twinning Program. The Twinning Program was created by the WFH in 1994 to achieve more advanced and efficient hemophilia care and organizations, and has been exclusively sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals since 2001.
Through the Twinning Program, treatment centers and hemophilia patient organizations in emerging countries are paired with corresponding centers and organizations in developed countries to help share knowledge, experience and best practices.
This year, the WFH honored Hemophilia of Georgia and the Sociedad Hondureña de Hemofilia in Honduras for their participation in the Twinning Program. Specifically, these organizations were commended for improving data collection and increasing the registry of people who have hemophilia in Honduras; creating a regional chapter in northeast Honduras; training forty nurses in self-infusion; creating educational materials and raising awareness; and organizing a Global Feast fundraiser that brought in over $3000.
"We have thoroughly enjoyed our partnership with the Honduran Hemophilia Association," said Patricia A. Dominic, CEO of Hemophilia of Georgia. "The volunteers and families have been so committed to improving care for people with bleeding disorders in their country. Just getting the government to provide clotting factor to the Honduran bleeding disorder community has been a huge success story. But then getting a second treatment center in San Pedro Sula this past year and holding some successful fundraising events have put them over the top. While Hemophilia of Georgia staff has provided them with support and guidance, it is the people in the Honduran Hemophilia Association who have made great things happen."
"Wyeth is proud to be the sole sponsor of the WFH Twinning Program. We are committed to global hemophilia care and our work with the WFH is a way to foster partnerships that advance care for the global hemophilia community," said Angela Rossetti, Assistant Vice-President and Global Business Manager for Wyeth Hemophilia. "It is our sincere hope that our sponsorship of Twinning improves the quality of life for hemophilia patients and their families worldwide."
About the Twin of the Year Awards
Each year, the WFH grants an award to the most active and productive partnerships on the basis of the reports of the previous year's activities submitted by the participants in the program. The 2006 Twin of the Year Center Award recipients were the Hospital dos de Mayo of Lima, Peru and the Fort Worth Comprehensive Hemophilia Center of Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The 2006 Twin of the Year Organization Award recipients were Haemophilia Society of Bosnia & Herzegovina in Sarajevo and the Irish Haemophilia Society in Dublin.
Treatment Center Twinning can play a critical role in changing and improving treatment. Through coaching, training and transfer of expertise, Twinning can help to improve diagnosis and care delivery, and minimize complications associated with hemophilia. Likewise, the Hemophilia Organization Twinning program makes an important contribution to the local hemophilia community. Regular support and coaching provided by the Twinning Program can help enhance a patient organization's advocacy for the hemophilia community. Feedback from Twinning partners suggests that it is a positive two-way experience that motivates staff and volunteers, increases community involvement and enables both sides to learn from each other. More information on WFH's Twinning Program can be found at www.wfh.org.
About Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a rare, inherited blood-clotting disorder for which there is no cure. People with hemophilia are deficient in one of the key proteins - either factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B) - that are vital in the clotting physiology to prevent bleeding. Both forms of hemophilia are characterized by a spectrum of symptoms from spontaneous hemorrhages (typically into joints or soft tissue) to prolonged bleeding after trauma or injury.
About Hemophilia of Georgia
Hemophilia of Georgia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services and support for Georgians who have hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, and other inherited bleeding disorders. The only agency of its kind in the state, Hemophilia of Georgia works to enhance clients' care and quality of life while actively pursuing a cure through research funding. HoG's nonprofit pharmacy provides convenient home delivery of clotting factor and other medications at competitive prices. Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Hemophilia of Georgia exists so that people in Georgia affected by bleeding disorders live as normally and productively as possible. Additional information is available online at www.hog.org.
About World Federation of Hemophilia
The WFH is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with hemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders. Since it was established in 1963, the WFH has grown into a truly global network with member organizations in more than 100 countries and official recognition from the World Health Organization. The WFH works in partnership with health care professionals and people with hemophilia, governments and regulators, industry and foundations, to improve hemophilia care throughout the world.
About Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products in the areas of women's health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation, transplantation, hemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional products. Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.