Concept

Mission

Working in partnership with communities worldwide to advance sustainable prevention and care of wounds and lymphedema in settings with limited resources.

What is World Alliance for Wound and Lymphoedema Care?

WAWLC is a global partnership which was officially launched at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2009. WAWLC initially started as a working group in 2007.

Objectives of the initiative:

To raise awareness of the importance of chronic wounds and lymphedema as it relates to their economic and social impacts.

To develop a global policy on principles of wound care and lymphedema management.

To support countries in developing their capacities to use current knowledge and technologies on wound and lymphedema care to treat affected populations.

To contribute to strengthening health systems in affected countries at all levels in order to achieve objective.

To support research aimed at improving the management of chronic wounds and lymphedema.

Who is in the World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care?

WAWLC is open to international health organizations, non-governmental organizations, health professional associations, academic and research institutions, industry and individuals interested in advancing wound care and lymphedema management worldwide.

World Alliance for Wound and Lymphoedema Care (WAWLC)

Mission: Working in partnership with communities worldwide to advance sustainable prevention and care of wounds and lymphedema in settings with limited resources.

In pursuit of its mission WAWLC will focus on people, health and social systems, education, best clinical practices and research.

Why a new global health partnership for wound and lymphoedema care?

The past two decades have seen tremendous medical advances in wound care and lymphedema management, mainly as a result of scientific advances in developed countries. Diagnosing and treating chronic wounds and lymphedema of both primary and secondary etiologies cut across all medical specialties and all ages. The management of diseases and conditions such as diabetes mellitus, venous ulceration, pressure ulceration, traumatic wounds and AIDS-related wounds has benefited from these advances. This has led to improved care, reduced morbidity and economic burden. Furthermore, evidence-based modern wound care methods for lesions related to leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and common tropical ulcers are expected to yield significant benefits and improved outcomes.

Growing international interest in these subjects has generated professional associations (regional and country-specific) throughout the developed world. Experts believe that modern technologies for wound care and lymphedema management should be given global priority in public health and clinical care so that the knowledge, techniques and materials reach those in need, particularly in developing countries. A global policy combined with a global coordination mechanism to unite all interested organizations, associations, industry and individuals would help to make further progress.

WAWLC will promote five key principles for wound care:

Evaluate and address systemic conditions
Protect wounds from trauma;
Debride wounds, control wound infection;
Maintain a moist wound environment;
Control peri-wound oedema/lymphedema

What is World Alliance for Wound and Lymphoedema Care?

WAWLC is a global partnership which was officially launched at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in October 2009. WAWLC initially started as a working group in 2007.

Objectives of the initiative:

To raise awareness of the importance of chronic wounds and lymphedema as it relates to their economic and social impacts.
To develop a global policy on principles of wound care and lymphedema management.
To support countries in developing their capacities to use current knowledge and technologies on wound and lymphedema care to treat affected populations.
To contribute to strengthening health systems in affected countries at all levels in order to achieve objective.
To support research aimed at improving the management of chronic wounds and lymphedema.

Who is in the World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care?

What does WAWLC offer?

WAWLC provides a forum through which members can combine their strengths and implement solutions that no one partner could achieve alone.

Its work will focus on six key pillars:

Advocacy – raising the global profile of chronic wounds and lymphedema with health policy-makers to ensure that these conditions are better positioned within health and development agendas.
Resource mobilization – devising innovative and attractive strategies to raise financial and material resources from both public and private sources to support the activities of the initiative.
Global coordination and networking – supporting a small secretariat dedicated to developing, managing and nurturing the initiative as an important global entity in wound care and lymphedema management.
Country support: providing support to countries in developing the capacities of their health systems to provide integrated wound and lymphedema care at all levels.
Effective interventions and research – Through education and training, promoting and guiding the use of evidence-based, cost-effective interventions and products.
Monitoring and evaluation – assessing progress through data analyses, country visits and stakeholder meetings.

What has WAWLC accomplished to date?

Training seminar for nurses and physicians in Haiti July 2010
A White Paper entitled “Wound and Lymphoedema Management” developed and published by the WHO in 2010.
Teaching seminars completed in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana in 2009.
Assessment of wound and lymphoedema care and related issues completed in four countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Uganda).
Annual meetings held in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 to gradually develop the concept of the Alliance and establish a network of interested parties.

Expected impact

Global and national awareness of wound and lymphedema improved and the work of Alliance partners enhanced.
Global coordination mechanism established among interested parties in wound and lymphedema care issues to advance work along agreed priorities.
Wound and lymphedema management established across related diseases at all levels of the health-care system and used to contribute to strengthening of health systems.
Better management of chronic wounds and lymphedema in accordance with evidenced-based modern principles to improve the quality life of affected populations.
Enhanced documentation and improved understanding of chronic wounds and lymphedema, including their social and economic impacts.
Close and mutually beneficial relationship established with industry to advance efforts.