“I am going to die here by myself.”
These eight words were said by a member of our bleeding disorders community—a 33-year old Iraqi man with hemophilia—possibly severe hemophilia—who has been living alone in Jordan awaiting medical care in the US for two years. His name is Al Ameen and he made his comment in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order that suspends entry to the US by individuals traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and suspends all refugee admission for 120 days.
Al Ameen is convinced he will not survive the four-month wait.
He may be right and he is not alone. According to one estimate, the 120-day suspension period will result in denied entry for 800 people needing urgent medical treatment.
The Trump Administration’s executive order allows for exemptions on a case-by-case basis, but for people with bleeding disorders like Al Ameen—and those like him with other serious medical conditions—“case-by-case” review may be too little, too late.
NHF will continue helping people with bleeding disorders from around the world—75 percent of whom lack access to quality care or any care at all—by providing information and guidance on these chronic diseases to individuals and government agencies seeking information. We are also here to help connect individuals with organizations that may be able to assist them in dealing with similar issues encountered by members of our community like Al Ameen.
America is a compassionate nation and, at NHF, we will do all we can to help people with bleeding disorders regardless of their country of origin because compassion has no borders.
Val D. Bias
CEO
National Hemophilia Foundation
