17/04/2026
Today is World Hemophilia Day.
Hemophilia is a rare blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to clot properly. Most people with hemophilia are born with it, and thanks to modern treatment, many live full, active professional lives.
You might not know if a colleague has hemophilia. That’s the point.
Rare conditions are, by definition, uncommon. But in a team of 100 people, there will almost certainly be someone managing something most colleagues don’t recognize; a rare autoimmune condition, a blood disorder, a genetic condition, or a chronic pain syndrome.
And here’s what most of them have in common:
they’re navigating it alone, because the workplace hasn’t made it easy to do otherwise.
Inclusive organisations don’t just accommodate the most commonly-known conditions. They build systems flexible and safe enough to include people with needs they haven’t specifically anticipated.
Importantly, under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, hemophilia is legally recognized as a disability. This means that if someone in your team is living with hemophilia, they are entitled to reasonable accommodations that enable them to participate fully and equally at work.
That looks like:
✅ A clear, accessible process for requesting accommodations; for any health condition, not just the ones on a list
✅ Managers trained to respond with compassion when someone shares something personal about their health
✅ Flexible working arrangements that can be adjusted based on individual needs, not just policy templates
✅ Flexibility to attend medical appointments or treatment sessions
✅ A culture where disclosure is met with support, not scrutiny
✅ Ergonomic support and safe work environments to minimize risk of injury
✅ Emergency response protocols that ensure timely medical support if needed.........
The point is;
You don’t need to understand every rare condition. You need to create the conditions where every person feels safe enough to tell you what they need.
Inclusion means everyone. Especially the ones we can’t see.
