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The principal goals of the WFIP (World Federation of Incontinence Patients), making for dialogue and comparison among the various European and international and associations, are executed through the auspices of a single WFIP Executive Council entrusted with the tasks outlined below:
- the bringing together and ‘socialisation’ of incontinent patients ;
- each member nation with an association of patients and representing its own specific situation and diversity ;
- working towards the acknowledgement and acceptance by institutions at all social and political levels of the difficult problems of urinary and faecal incontinence and related problems ;
- protection of the rights of incontinent patients in every country ;
- the passing of a law in every country protecting incontinent patients (urinary and faecal) ;
- upholding and guaranteeing quality standards for prosthetic aids used by the incontinent patient (diapers, probes, collection bags, catheters, etc.) ;
- guaranteeing the reimbursement of drugs for incontinence ;
- ensuring that the views of incontinent patients are heard at WHO level.
The two completely autonomous Federations (making up the WFIP) must work together to achieve the goals set by their respective Articles of Association. The World Federation of Incontinence Patients (WFIP) has sole responsibility for the issuing of guidelines to be followed scrupulously by all the national associations.
The main goals of the International Federation (as part of the WFIP) are:
to furnish and distribute information to the national associations;
to gather and collate all relevant information and experience;
to collaborate with social and health workers (doctors and nurses), the ICS (International Continence Society) end AIUGA;
to furnish to the mass media and to institutions information of a scientific and social/medical nature;
to provide free advice to health professionals and social welfare workers;
to publish and send to national offices the newsletter of the International Federation, called “IFPI News”;
to publish information on incontinence and associated problems, distributing it among institutions, public medical authorities and the mass media;
to construct and update the WFIP’s Internet site;
to hold meetings and conferences at all levels (European and international);
to facilitate the creation of new associations through the support and commitment of the national associations of neighbouring countries;
to enable patients to exercise their “right of free choice” for prosthetic aids for incontinence, through the use of technologically innovative and approved products;
to guarantee the high quality of prosthetic aids in every country (probes, diapers, collection bags, catheters, rubber sheets, etc.);
to promote the reimbursement of drugs for incontinence in every country;
to support the rights of the incontinent patient;
to maintain and increase awareness about the social and humanitarian impact on the quality of life of incontinent citizens;
to coordinate and offer all types of aid to the national associations;
to cooperate with doctors, nurses, the WHO, the AIUGA, the ICS and other similar organisations;
to facilitate the design and construction of public bathrooms (homes and public places).
The protection of the rights of the incontinent citizen is the paramount stated objective on which the World Federation is founded. The aim is to work towards a uniform and optimum level for the quality of life of the (urinary and faecal) incontinent citizen/patient. The WFIP, albeit autonomous in its financial and socio-political management, must be highly motivated in these areas, advocating special meetings with national, European, and international political authorities and with the mass-media.
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