The International Continence Society has asked the World Federation for Incontinent Patients (WFIP), a valued IAPO member, to run World Continence Awareness Week from 20-26 June in order to raise awareness of incontinence, a debilitating and much-ignored condition that affects over 400 million people worldwide.

The WFIP is calling on patients and patients’ organizations to take part in the week by organizing events, however big or small, to help educate and spread the message that something can be done about the condition. Continence issues are rarely given prominent attention in mainstream media and discussions. The awareness week is a chance to reverse this.

Too often, patients are incorrectly told that incontinence is just a ‘part of growing old’. Through the World Continence Awareness Week, the WFIP will be highlighting that bladder problems are ‘not an inevitable part of aging’ and that no-one should have to learn to live with the stigma and embarrassment of incontinence. Given that incontinence affects around 1 in 4 women over the age of 35 and 1 in 10 adult men, this is a crucial campaign to demonstrate the widespread nature of the condition and its impact on the lives of adults and children of all ages. For example, the condition affects the quality of life of many women after childbirth, as well as those patients having undergone prostate operations.

Given that incontinence affects around 1 in 4 women over the age of 35 and 1 in 10 adult men, this is a crucial campaign to demonstrate the widespread nature of the condition and its impact on the lives of adults and children of all ages.

From car boot sales to sponsored runs, to physiotherapists running free pelvic floor exercise sessions in public places, the WFIP is asking for patients and patients’ groups to help promote the campaign’s message that the condition can be treated, often cured, and always managed.

There will be a number of events held in Africa (especially Uganda), thanks to the WFIP’s new African member organizations. There will also be activities held by patients’ organizations in India and a number of other countries around the world. If you can help by organising an event to mark the World Continence Awareness Week, however big or small, please let the WFIP know through their Facebook page.

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