At the Israeli National Centre for Continence, a small group of doctors from different specialities is at work. They are spreading knowledge about incontinence, both to other doctors and to the general public. The group’s activities are financed by public funds.

The organisation sees its chief task as educating general practitioners.

"Nine out of 10 GPs aren’t interested. But the ones who do listen receive special training about incontinence and can be the reference person for their region. That’s how our network grows," says Ilan E. Gruenwald.

Despite suspicions from some of Gruenwald’s colleagues that the centre is out to "steal" patients from them, four new satellite centres for incontinence care were opened in 2000.

Gruenwald stresses the importance of a national centre for incontinence care, with the requisite knowledge, resources, equipment and experience. The centre delivers information in Israel’s three main languages -- Hebrew, Arabic and Russian. A national health-line recorded more than 3,000 calls during its first few months -- so many that "taking care of them all gave us great problems," Gruenwald says.

TEXT GABOR HONT PHOTO MARTTI KAINULAINEN/LEHTIKUVA