136. Global Care for People with Bleeding Disorders

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) works to ensure that every person with a bleeding disorder has access to safe, effective, and sustainable care, no matter where they live. Around the world, thousands of people with bleeding disorders still face life-long pain, disability, and even early death due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment. In this talk, WFH Medical and Humanitarian Aid Director, Dr. Assad Haffar, and WFH Head of Corporate & Community Partnerships and National Director of WFH USA, Marlene Spencer, will share how WFH is advancing global standards of care through humanitarian aid, training and education, and policy advocacy. They will also highlight opportunities for partnerships that align with Rotary’s values of service, global health, and community impact.Dr. Assad Haffar is the Medical and Humanitarian Aid Director at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) in Montreal, Canada. Since joining WFH in 2000, he has led the organization’s Humanitarian Aid Program, the largest global initiative delivering clotting factor concentrates to countries with limited access, while supporting the development of national care programs and treatment centers worldwide. Dr. Haffar holds an MD from the University of Damascus, as well as advanced degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Environmental and Occupational Health in Japan. Marlene Spencer is Head of Corporate & Community Partnerships at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and National Director of WFH USA, the organization’s U.S. affiliate connecting American supporters to WFH’s global mission. With more than 15 years at WFH, she leads fundraising strategies across corporate and community sectors, securing commitments and working to identify and diversify revenue streams to sustain WFH’s global programs.To learn more, read the WFH Impact and stories of 2024:https://wfh.org/https://wfh.org/about-wfh/#wfh-annual-report-2024/1/