Bayer donation set to improve quality of life for people with haemophilia
Running, driving and swimming have become much easier for people with bleeding disorders thanks to a $20,000 Bayer
donation to the Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ).
The donation was made by Bayer HealthCare’s Biological Products division, which makes the coagulant treatment Kogenate
FS®, used by many haemophilia patients in New Zealand.
The funding will be used by the Foundation for its supportive footwear, defensive driving and swimming programmes,
available to around 400 of its members.
HFNZ outreach worker Colleen McKay believes the programmes make a huge difference to people with bleeding disorders and
their families.
“Many families on limited incomes struggle to afford the specialist items that enable people living with bleeding
disorders to live safe, fulfilling and comfortable lives. Bayer’s financial assistance allows these families to access
resources that they may otherwise have to go without. This very practical support makes a huge difference.”
All three programmes are important to HFNZ members. The footwear programme buys supportive footwear for people with
bleeding disorders; the driving programme improves the driving skills of patients; while the swimming programme offers a
safe form of exercise.
Bayer Biological Products business group manager Jill Porter says she is delighted to be able to offer such strong
support to the HFNZ community.
“We are well known in the industry as a provider of therapeutic products for people with bleeding disorders. However, we
are also keenly aware of our responsibility to support groups such as HFNZ, particularly in the important areas of
prevention and education.
“As one of the sustaining patrons of the Foundation we have for many years recognised the importance of the work it
does. It is especially satisfying to know that our donation will go towards benefiting all age groups, particularly
children, through these great programmes.”
Bayer also supports HFNZ in other ways. It is a main sponsor of haemophilia health camps held throughout the country and
earlier this year helped raised money for World Haemophilia Day.
Ends
About Haemophilia
Approximately 400,000 people around the world have haemophilia. Haemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder
characterized by prolonged or spontaneous bleeding, especially into the muscles, joints, or internal organs. The disease
is caused by deficient or defective blood coagulation proteins, known as factor VIII or IX. The most common form of the
disease is haemophilia A, or classic haemophilia, in which the clotting factor VIII is either deficient or defective.
Haemophilia B is characterized by deficient or defective factor IX.
About Bayer HealthCare AG
Bayer HealthCare AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the health care
and medical products industry. In 2004, the Bayer HealthCare subgroup generated sales amounting to some 8.5 billion
Euro. The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care,
Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. Bayer HealthCare employed 35,300 people worldwide in 2004. Bayer
HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.
The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.