INTRODUCTION : INLEIDING

This will be the last newsletter from this Region for this year. During the past year nothing significant happened and we had very little, or to say the least, NO response to our previous letters.

We would like to know how you feel about the existence of the Haemophilia Foundation and whether the Organisation is of any value to our patients and parents. This is very important as the world around us is changing rapidly and the treatment of our patients is beginning to get unaffordable. More and more patients are feeling threatened by the possibility of no treatment being available and/or the supply of Factor VIII or IX being withdrawn from hospitals. The Medical Schemes are also beginning to withdraw as they cannot afford to pay huge sums of money for the treatment of haemophiliacs.

If we do not stand together and do our best to get the best treatment for our patients, they are the only people who will suffer in the end. As individuals we do not have any hope of getting anything done and we will have to stand together as an organisation. We, as an organisation can definitely not do anything without the help of our members.

PLOT 71, MONAVONI IN CENTURION

This meeting will be held at the home of Jurgens and Yvonne Delport. They are new in our area — formerly from Bloemfontein. We would like to welcome them in our Region and hope that they will join in with our small group of haemophiliacs. Mag julle verblyf hier in die Noordstreek vrugbaar en aangenaam wees. Ons waardeer dit dat julle as nuwe lede bereid is om julle pragtige plot tot ons beskikking te stel vir die geleentheid. The details of the meeting will be shown on the map included in this letter.

MAAK ASSEBLIEF BETYDS AFSPRAKE EN SORG DAT U BETYDS IS — DIE PERSONEEL IS BAIE BESIG EN KAN NIE BEKOSTIG OM ONNODIG OP PASIëNTE TE WAG NIE. KANSELLEER OOK BETYDS ASB!!

Ons maak graag van hierdie geleentheid gebruik om die Dokters en personeel van ons Kliniek te bedank vir hulle onbaatsugtige bydrae wat hulle die afgelope twee en ‘n half jaar gelewer het. Dit het nie ongesiens verbygegaan nie. Ons kan net DANKIE sê en ons waardering uitspreek vir die groot taak wat u so suksesvol doen! Baie dankie.

Ons verwelkom ook alle nuwe pasiënte wat gedurende die afgelope jaar by ons Kliniek aangesluit het. A special word of welcome to all the new patients who joined the Clinic during the past year. Please remember that we as an Organisation and the staff at the Clinic are there to assist you and your families to the best of our ability at all times.

Should you be interested in insurance, either for yourself or your child, please contact Hans at the above telephone number for more information.

Die Komitee het ‘n firma genader om ons behulpsaam te wees met fondsinsameling. Ons benodig ‘n paar goeie borge. Indien iemand belangstel om ons te borg of pryse te skenk vir ‘n Gholtoernooi of om ons te ondersteun vir ‘n filmpremiere, skakel asseblief vir Gerhard Coetzee, ons huidige sekretaris by telefoon (012) 654 6468 vir meer inligting. Dit is nou die enigste uitweg om fondse in te samel en enige hulp van watter aard sal opreg waardeer word.

This Congress was a great success and a report back will be given at our Annual General Meeting to be held on 13 November 1999. It was a great experience to attend this meeting and we realised that there are thousands of patients who have little or no treatment available. We have to be positive and do what we can to assist other countries on this continent so that their haemophiliacs can also have access to proper treatment. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER — WE HAVE TO START WITH OUR OWN COUNTRY FIRST!!

Although the Congress was mostly centered around the treatment of haemophiliacs on the Continent of Africa, shocking details came to light about little or no treatment in a large number of countries around the world. Please think of these patients and do your best to avoid something similar happening in this beautiful country of ours.

We wish all our matric students and persons writing exams during this time of the year, the very best and may you achieve the results you have worked so hard for during the past year.

A very special thank you to my committee who supported me, as chairperson in particular, during my term of office. I appreciate your confidence and I could not have done my work without your assistance. I wish the next committee a successful and fruitful term of office.

Best wishes to all our members and patients — a very happy and prosperous new year to everyone. May the new Millennium bring peace and love to our world. We hope you will have an injuries free year and use very little Factor VIII during the year 2000. God bless you all.