Congress – Enhancing nursing care

ROSAMMA VARGHESE

Rosamma Varghese is Haemophilia & bleeding disorders Nurse Specialist at Canberra Hospital, ACT.

Attending the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) 2026 World Congress was both professionally enriching and personally motivating.

Don’t leave anyone behind

Chair ~ Cyrus G. Njuguna, Kenya
Mild hemophilia inhibitor ~ Anne Jackson, Australia

At the WFH 2026 World Congress, Anne Jackson, who is Haemophilia Nurse Consultant in North Adelaide, emphasised during the ‘Don’t leave anyone behind’ session that prevention and management of inhibitor development require vigilant, coordinated, and patient-centred care, with nurses playing a central role. Key priorities include early recognition of reduced treatment response or breakthrough bleeding, supporting adherence to prophylaxis and immune tolerance therapy, monitoring treatment efficacy and safety, and facilitating timely inhibitor screening and specialist review. Patient education, shared decision-making, and multidisciplinary collaboration were highlighted as essential to reducing inhibitor burden and improving outcomes. Overall, effective inhibitor management relies not only on treatment choice, but on early recognition, close monitoring, and strong nursing.

Nurses Professional Development Day

Co-chairs ~ Marlène Beijlevelt, Netherlands; Erica Crilly, Canada; Anjalin D’Souza, India; Cathy Harrison, UK; Jennifer Maahs, USA; BJ Ramsay, New Zealand
Assessment of a musculoskeletal bleed ~ Pamela Narajan, India

Dr Pamela Narayan, who is a Consultant Physiotherapist from Lakshmi Hospital and Research Centre in Hyderabad, reinforced the critical role of nurses in identifying musculoskeletal complications and preventing long-term joint damage in people with haemophilia during her presentation on the ‘Assessment of a musculoskeletal bleed’. Early recognition and prompt assessment of symptoms such as pain, swelling, reduced range of movement, altered gait, and suspected joint or muscle bleeds are essential for timely intervention. Nursing care includes educating patients to recognise early bleed symptoms, supporting timely treatment, reinforcing prophylaxis adherence, promoting safe physical activity, and facilitating physiotherapy and multidisciplinary input. Through vigilant monitoring and preventative education, nurses help reduce recurrent bleeds, preserve joint function, and improve long-term quality of life.

A key learning to bring back to the Haemophilia Treatment Centre is the importance of strengthening patient education and early recognition of both bleeds and potential inhibitor development, alongside reinforcing preventative strategies to protect joint health. These insights will inform practice through enhanced patient education, timely intervention, and collaborative, evidence-informed nursing care.

Australian haemophilia nurses were assisted to attend the WFH 2026 World Congress through funding from a variety of sources. For more information, see the WFH 2026 Congress article.