What is Hemophilia:- 
Hemophilia is a hereditary disorder of coagulation that results in deficiency of factor VIII (Hemophilia A) or Factor IX (Hemophilia B). The disease is almost exclusively seen in males while females are asymptomatic carriers. Rarely it can affect females. It is characterized by spontaneous or trauma related bleeding typically into the large joints or muscles. Untreated or inadequately treated episodes lead to joint, muscle or nerve damage resulting in progressive deterioration of function. Mucocutaneous bleeding is not common but can occur. Life threatening hemorrhages can result spontaneously or from trauma to the head or internal organs. Without proper care, hemophilia can lead to serious damage to limb and joint function within the first one to two decades of life. This is due to impaired joint mobility, contractures, muscle atrophy and chronic pain. Crippling joint deformities can be effectively prevented by adequate care of each episode of bleeding, including replacement of the appropriate coagulation factor lacked by the patient and very deliberate and persistent physical therapy.

What can Hemophilia lead to?

• Disability
  Treatment of Hemophilia is very expensive. Therefore, patients are under-treated or not treated at all because of it's cost. This leads to permanent disability. Children become handicapped before they reach their teens.
• Financial Ruin
  Hemophilia is manageable. The treatment is in the form of intravenous injections of a life-saving medicine called "Anti Hemophilic Factor". This is extracted from human blood and hence it is very expensive. It is also not manufactured anywhere in India. HFI imports it at the lowest price in the world. Unfortunately there is no financial support from the government to make it affordable to the patients.
• Risk of HIV/AIDS
  Persons with Hemophilia have to take frequent transfusions of blood and blood-products. Hence, they face a high risk of HIV & Hepatitis A, B and C.
• Total Insecurity
  Hemophilia, if not treated properly leads to disability; family becomes a financial wreck and the child himself feels that he is a total burden on the society. This is also because of low level of awareness in patients, doctors and general public about Hemophilia.