Negros Occidental fifth district Rep. Marilou Arroyo recently offered her support in the fight against hemophilia, a rare disorder where blood does not clot normally due to the lack of sufficient proteins and causes excessive bleeding. The congresswoman, who chairs the House Committee on Health, made a pledge after meeting with the officials from the Hemophilia Philippines Foundation Inc.
The organization seeks better access to medical care for hemophiliacs.
“Personally hearing the stories of those suffering from hemophilia completely breaks my heart,” Arroyo said. “With the best of my ability as a legislator, I will help them in making sure that there will be easy access to treatment of this disease.”
“Hopefully, my fellow legislators in the House of Representatives can give me their utmost support to give people with hemophilia a better chance at life,” she added.
There are approximately 1,500 Filipinos identified as hemophiliacs with treatment that could cost between P30,000 and P50,000 a day./DGB, WDJ