A Slightly Rippled Surface on the South Bohemian Pond

ČSH

In terms of the life of the haemophilia community, one of the quietest regions in the Czech Republic is precisely the South Bohemian one. There are no activities here, and very few Society members come from this area. This is one of the reasons why the Society directed another instalment of its regional workshops here, with the aim of helping local colleagues. It assembled the usual team of experts and reserved a meeting at the Hotel Podhrad in Hluboka nad Vltavou for as broad an audience as possible. Two direct participants wish to share their impressions.

The opening was given over to greetings from the hosts at the sponsoring company Baxter and the organising Czech Hemophilia Society. Vice-Chairman Martin Bohun presented the Society's activities and upcoming events, and also introduced important guests -- the head physicians of the haemophilia centre for adults and children in Ceske Budejovice, Ivan Vonke and Pavel Timr. Families with children could entrust their little ones to professional childminders. We barely saw the children and could thus fully concentrate on all the information.

The first of the invited speakers was Ivan Vonke, head of the Department of Clinical Haematology at the Ceske Budejovice Hospital. He acquainted us with current haemophilia treatment and outlined future possibilities. Pavel Timr, a physician from the paediatric haematology-oncology department of the Ceske Budejovice Hospital, guided us through the disease and its treatment from its history to the present day.

Orthopaedic surgeon Petr Teyssler from the Motol University Hospital in Prague travelled south to deliver a lecture on the treatment options for joints affected by bleeding. This was certainly one of the most beneficial presentations.

Many of us heard for the first time about the possibility of using home care provided by specialised nurses. It is funded by public health insurance and allows for professional assistance directly in the patient's home when needed. Detailed information, including instructions on how to obtain the service, was presented by Katerina Novakova from the Home Care Agency IVAS.

Marcela Stafova travelled all the way from the distant Liberec employment office. She presented a broad picture of the possibilities offered by the social welfare system. And right on the spot, she was able to advise on further steps in specific cases where someone was unhappy with the approach of social authorities. A number of new developments have been prepared for this year, and we were able to hear about all of them.

From the CSH website and printed materials, it has long been known how immensely important rehabilitation of affected joints and prevention of damage are. As at previous workshops, Marie Katzerova from Brno University Hospital spoke on this topic. She even offered the opportunity to practically try out some exercises, but unfortunately very few people took her up on it. A pity, as such an opportunity may not come again so easily.

During all the lectures, we had the opportunity to put questions to any of the speakers.

Great thanks go to Baxter and the Czech Hemophilia Society for making this meeting of people with haemophilia and von Willebrand disease possible. For all of us, the information was extremely valuable, and we look forward to its fruits soon blossoming on the peaceful South Bohemian fields.

Jana Nemcova, Romana Schwarzova

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