The 31st World Federation of Hemophilia Congress took place in Melbourne, Australia from 11th to 14th May 2014. The opening ceremony featured a welcome address from the WFH Patron Mr. Jan Willem Andre de la Porte, Mr. Robert McCabe, Congress President, Mr. Gavin Finkelstein and WFH President Mr. Alain Weill. There were over 4,000 delegates from 130 countries, a lineup of plenaries, workshops, sessions presented by leading experts, and with top clinicians, scientists, people with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders, and researchers.
Prior to the Congress, Global National Member Organisation (NMO) training took place with 104 delegates attending. This training covered a wide range of issues facing NMOs, emphasised the importance of connecting with other NMO\’s, to learn from each other and in 2014 covered other areas like economics, clinical research, women and bleeding disorders, fundraising initiatives, and dealing with government officials.
At the main Congress areas that were covered during the daily sessions were:
- Disclosure
- Non-adherence
- Management with little or no factor
- Transition
- Healthy Living
- Growing up with haemophilia
- Vein care
- Leadership development strategies
- Registries
- Ageing
- Clinical Trials, Longer Acting Factor, Gene Therapy
- Family Dynamics
- Inhibitors
- Prophylaxis with novel therapies
The General Assembly took place on the last day of the Congress. In the format of a UN style meeting, with each country having their flag at their desk, elections took place with I.H.S. staff person Declan Noone elected as the lay person onto the Executive Board of the WFH. The General Assembly also voted that Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia will host the 2020 WFH Congress.
WFH Congress Supplement 2014