WFIP meeting 2011

The World Federation of Incontinent Patients Held Its Annual Meeting in Bari, Italy

The annual meeting of the World Federation of Incontinent Patients (WFIP) was held in Bari, Italy in December to update its strategic priorities. Some items covered included new tactics to reach operational objectives, strengthen fund development and expand leadership and growth of the organization.

The WFIP organization currently represents four continents and 13 patient advocacy organizations. Organizations that are members include the National Association For Continence, located in the US; the Canadian Continence Foundation; Federazione Italiana INCOntinenti; Femmes pour Toujours, located in France; PromoCon, located in the UK; Interstitial Cystitis Patients’ Association, located in the Netherlands; UROCONTI, located in Poland; INCO FORUM, located in Czech Republic; Kontinensforeningen, located in Denmark; Sinoba, located in Sweden; FINCOROM (Associatiei Române Incontinenti), located in Romania; Malta Continence Care Association; and Japan Continence Action Society. Dr. Diaa Rizk (Egypt and Canada) serves as medical advisor to the Executive Council. Dr. Mário João Gomes (Portugal) and Dr. Montserrat Espuña (Spain); the European Form for Good Clinical Practice, located in Brussels; and the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations, based in the UK, are affiliate members. At the meeting, new officers were elected in accordance with the Statutes of the organization, including Lynne van Poelgeest-Pomfret of the Netherlands as president. Franceso Diomede was honored by meeting attendees as founder of WFIP and chairman. With the primary goal of improving the lives of those living with bladder and/or bowel control problems, WFIP is increasing its presence primarily in European venues through its participation in patient advocacy forums and presentations before professional groups and policy makers. As a result of its recent planning meeting in Bari, WFIP is launching a mentoring program to foster new organizations in countries that lack a patient advocacy group dedicated to improving the lives of people living with incontinence. Through publicity of its Patient Bill of Rights, WFIP hopes to improve access to safe, proven and advancing means of treating and managing bladder and bowel control problems. Also among its priorities are the establishment of global consumer guidelines for preventative and lifestyle measures and when to seek help for symptoms.

About the WFIP
The World Federation of Incontinent Patients (acronym: WFIP) is a non-profit association founded at the behest ofincontinent patients and their respective national associations who have long felt the need to see their rights protected. The purpose of the Federation, the management of which is autonomous and non-remunerative, is to improve the quality of life of citizens who suffer from incontinence and related problems.

The Federation (WFIP) provides its individual member country associations with information and guidelines designed to assist in the setting up and management of the national associations themselves, with a view to seeking the protection of their rights through the respective national governments and vis-à-vis the world community as a whole. For more information visit wfip here

Contact:
Nancy Muller, Secretary of the Executive Council, World Federation of Incontinent Patients
(telephone) 001.843.377.0900 x207; (facsimile) 001.843.377.0905; (e-mail) nafc@wfip.org