New Delhi, April 15 (IANS): Aimed at creating better awareness and knowledge among the haemophilic community and the public, an awareness walk cum event HAEMOutsav 2014 was organised here Tuesday.

An initiative of the Haemophilia Centre of the Delhi government at the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and the Lok Nayak hospital, the walk from Rajghat till MAMC brought together members of the community, with the aim of instilling a sense of confidence and participation among them.

"There still exists lacuna when it comes to awareness about the disease. But all patients should get themselves treated on time so that this disease does not become a barrier for them," Abhilash Dali, a 32-year-old patient of haemophilia, who works with the Haemophilia Federation of India, told IANS.

The event also marked the launch of One Country, One Treatment - a programme that makes haemophilia treatment available, accessible and affordable across the country.

HAEMOutsav 2014 also included performances by the haemophilia community, and a quiz about the disease.

Haemophilia is a congenital lifelong bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly, leading to internal bleeding in patients, mostly in the joints, muscles and vital organs like the brain.