Gashaw Arega: Advancing Bleeding Disorders Care in Africa
Gashaw Arega, Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist at Addis Ababa University, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Ethiopia Hosts the WFH Regional Workshop on ‘Advancing Bleeding Disorders Care’ in Addis Ababa, May 23–24, 2026.
Nine months ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Workshop, ‘Hemophilia Care in the 21st Century: Updates on the Diagnosis and Management,’ held from July 31–August 4, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The workshop highlighted the major gaps and geographical barriers in the diagnosis and management of hemophilia between high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Africa, hemophilia is still underdiagnosed and often diagnosed late.
The disparities in treatment are also striking.
While HICs are advancing hemophilia care through clotting factor concentrates (Factor VIII and IX replacement therapy), bypassing agents, recombinant therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and even ongoing work toward gene therapy as a potential cure, many LMICs still rely on fresh frozen plasma (FFP), cryoprecipitate, and mainly on-demand factor therapy.
Access to prophylactic therapy remains very limited, and factor concentrates are often dependent on donations through WFH humanitarian aid programs.
Moving forward, just nine months later, Ethiopia is now hosting the WFH Regional Conference, ‘Advancing Bleeding Disorders Care,’ in Addis Ababa on May 23–24, 2026.
This marks a major milestone, as the workshop is being held again in Africa after 11 years, last hosted in South Africa in 2015.
More than 100 participants and experts from across Africa are attending, together with the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), the Ethiopian Hemophilia Society (EHS), and supporting teams working collaboratively to shape the future of bleeding disorders care in the region.
I also had the opportunity to present on ‘The State of Hemophilia Services in Ethiopia.’
Encouragingly, hemophilia care in Ethiopia is now being decentralized and expanded beyond the main hub at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital to additional centers including St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC), University of Gondar (UoG), Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Haramaya University Hospital, Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, and Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Mekelle.
A sincere thank you to WFH, the Ethiopian Hemophilia Society (EHS), healthcare professionals, patients, families, and all partners working tirelessly to improve hemophilia care in Ethiopia and across Africa.
We have successfully concluded the two days WFH Africa workshop.
Thank you WFH, EHS and Nile Care /Nile soutions for the beautiful event and coordination.”
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