Second Regional Workshop at Kundratice Spa

Two dozen association members and their friends from the Liberec Region and adjacent regions gathered here with experts working in the fields that interest us. A lecture salon, a room for individual rehabilitation and, for those interested, a hydrotherapy spa department with a swimming pool were all available.

The morning block of lectures was opened by Vice-Chairman Martin Bohůn, who introduced the activities of the Czech Hemophilia Society and informed attendees about the association's current activities. He then handed the floor to MUDr. Lenka Walterová, head physician of the haematology centre at the Regional Hospital in Liberec. She covered basic information about haemophilia and home treatment. After answering questions from the members present, MUDr. Adam Vitouš, head physician of the infectious diseases department at the Regional Hospital in Liberec, seamlessly followed with a lecture focused on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Among other things, attendees learned that a new generation of drugs for this disease should appear soon.

A particularly interesting part of the Saturday morning for everyone was devoted to the current legal framework for social care for persons with disabilities. Mgr. Martina Hendrychová, head of the social affairs department at the Liberec City Hall, answered the attendees' questions - and there were quite a few.

The morning lecture block was further complemented by MUDr. Petr Teyssler from the orthopaedic clinic at Motol University Hospital. Before lunch, he addressed the topic of total joint replacements, and after lunch he followed up with a lecture on degenerative joint diseases and prevention.

The concluding part of the theoretical section belonged to physiotherapist Mgr. Ing. Eva Zdařilová, PhD, who not only reiterated the generally known principles but confirmed the necessity of regular rehabilitation at every age.

Each participant could then take part in individual exercises with experienced therapists, who also advised on how to proceed in each specific case. There was also great interest in a group visit to the swimming pool.

And anyone who was not exercising or rehabilitating in the pool at the moment could practise venipuncture, just as at the first workshop in Brno. Bayer has a training vein that very faithfully simulates a real one, allowing first steps towards self-administration to be taken. For some participants, this was a significant experience, as it was actually their first-ever needle insertion.

Just as in Brno, the gathering at Kundratice Spa fulfilled its purpose and once again showed that such visits to the regions, reaching out to each individual, have great value. It was confirmed that such meetings are also beneficial for the presenting experts. Among other things, we had the opportunity to meet a new doctor from the haematology department of the Regional Hospital in Liberec, who will be taking care of us following MUDr. Jan Loužil's move to Prague to join ÚHKT.

The pleasantly spent day was further enhanced by the excellent care of the spa staff for our comfort and taste buds. It is impossible not to mention, for example, the homemade strudel.

In conclusion, I would like to pass the symbolic baton to the next region for the third meeting in the series called "Together About Haemophilia".

Petr Grim, CSH Council member