More than 300 members gathered for the annual Christmas party - hemophilia patients, parents, siblings, and loved ones coming from Cebu and from the other regions in Visayas (central Philippines), and Mindanao (southern Philippines).
It started with a Catholic mass presided by Rev. Donald Kill.
After the opening remarks by Sr. Lydia Merino, a short tribute slideshow/speech dedicated to our late president Bobby Chua followed.
A video documentary on "Hemophilia and Physical Therapy" in Philippine setting followed. It is a 1-hour case study video on a hemophilia patient with hemophilic arthropathy undergoing physical rehabilitation. The purpose of the video was to educate the hemophilia community that factor replacement (infusion) alone cannot resolve bleeding episodes esp. chronic bleeds, and that maintaining proper exercise can help reduce the frequency of bleeds.
A Factor Assay Program was offered by the Phil. Hemophilia Foundation from Manila c/o Ms. Lorena Santos – 44 suspected patients were tested. Some of the tested patients were siblings and relatives of diagnosed hemophilia patients, others were previously untested patients from referrals by doctors. Later, Dr. Lynda Mae Lepatan arrived and also volunteered to partake in the Factor Assay program.
Several intermissions followed, such as song and dance numbers from hemophilia patients themselves, their siblings, and even some of their friends.
Play Therapy session followed. HAPI-C volunteers taught children about factor infusion by using stuffed toys as characters playing a dialogue.
After that, ice cream and stuffed toys (donations received by Fr. Kill) were given away to children.
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