Scand J HaematoZ - SuppZ40, Vo133, 1984,s 56

Parana Hemophiliac’s Home Curi tiba-Parana-Brazil

Rua Joiio Negrfio, 156 , Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

The idea of releasing the hemophiliacs from the humilated dependency of al- ways asking for help without being able to pay back and knowing that this vicious circle doesn’t have an end, made a group of businessmen, from Curitiba, decide to start working enthusiastically for the ac- complishment of the “Hemophiliac’s Home”.

The first stage of the program is the “Hemophiliac Home”, which expects to assist 400 hemophiliacs from our state, which has 8 million inhabitants. The pur- pose of the clinic is to give initial care and refer to the appropriate clinic with- out the need of hospitalization. Today when the hemophiliacs are bleeding they go searching for their cryoprecipitate from one blood bank to another until they find it or not. Many of the patients have to travel about 600 km in order to find a hospital where they can be assisted. When they arrive at the hospital they are only medicated and sent home, because there are no vacancies. The “Hemophili- ac’s Home’’ will assist the hemophiliacs 24 hours a day and will give room and board for those from the surroundings or for the ones who cannot afford to pay for their recovery.

The businessmen also attend to create the first Paranas Community Blood Bank

in the same building. The purpose is to arrange possibilities for fractionation of blood products and for distribution of those among the hospitals, and in this way obtain and be independent with re- gard to the anti-hemophilic factor and financial resources by selling the other blood products which are processed.

The building will be about 800 m2 with two floors. The land was donated by the city hall of Curitiba.

The first and most important contribu- tion was by Bamerindus Bank of Brazil through its Social Assistant Foundation. Altogether the collaboration of 20 more enterprises able to pay Cr$ 100,000,OO (about US$ 200,OO) for 15 months is needed.