World Continence Week – No More Stigma

Every year, the World Continence Week (WCW) raises awareness about incontinence-related issues. Coordinated by EPF member World Federation of Incontinent Patients (WFIP), this year’s initiative offered plenty of activities and workshops to help understand the disease and lift the stigma.

Incontinence is the unwanted and involuntary leakage of urine or stool. It is a sensitive condition that affects an estimated 400 million people across the world. Conditions affecting the bladder and bowel have often been “taboo” subjects with as a consequence an underreporting and under-diagnosis of these conditions. A lot of urinary incontinent persons do not mention their problem to a doctor or nurse and this figure is even higher for those with bowel incontinence. These conditions have been inadequately treated and poorly addressed by medical professionals, despite the substantial impact on individual health, self-esteem and quality of life.

In light of this situation, the WCW seeks to increase public awareness about these conditions and to empower patients with the confidence to seek help and advices.

Other objectives include:

  • Globally facilitate continence promotion to improve health, wellness and quality of life;
  • Provide a reliable forum for those seeking information on continence promotion and therapies;
  • Create a worldwide network of events and organisations that will be recognised as leading authorities of Continence, Bladder and Bowel Health information;
  • Promote a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.

WCW Events are held around the world, for example:

  • The Canadian Continence Foundation (TCCF) has co-hosted a Public Forum on Pelvic Floor Health in conjunction with the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA) in Vancouver.
  • In the UK, 343 people broke the world recordof simultaneous bouncing on mini-trampolines, to illustrate the silence and stigma around those embarrassing “little leaks”.

Follow WFIP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/world.federation.of.incontinent.patients/

Mary Lynne Von Poelgeest-Pomfret

Mary Lynne Von Poelgeest-Pomfret

Mary Lynne Van Poelgeest-Pomfret is the President of the World Federation of Incontinent Patients (WFIP)

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