Speakers at the Networking Forum Medical experts from around the world assembled for the annual meeting of Continence Society, ICS, in Seoul, Korea, on September 18th - 21st, 2001. During the meeting the Continence Promotion Committee, CPC, of the ICS, arranged a Networking Meeting. It was an opportunity for those running national organisations to exchange ideas and information. The Networking Meeting was coordinated by Peter Lim and Rani Vadiveloo. At this Networking Meeting the newly formed organizations in the Asia Pacific area shared their developments. Members from various national continence organisations from India, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia and Korea outlined major initiatives and achievements so far and plans under way for the future. "In common to them all, is the limited funding, resources and manpower available to address these enormous challenges. A quick "straw poll" was taken to estimate the number of people suffering with incontinence in the Asia Pacific area and the "guestimate" came at over 400 million people in this region alone!" says David Fonda, co-chair of CPC. "The need to liaise more closely, exchange ideas, resources and even to some extent personnel was raised. The Asia Pacific Continence Advisory Board (APCAB) convened and chaired by Peter Lim was seen to be a very important forum to continue this process," says David Fonda. "The Networking Meeting highlighted the Asian continence organizations’ significant role in the global promotion of continence. While still in its early stages, important steps have been made in improving continence awareness and deliver of care in Asia through the efforts of the different continence organizations, with the support of the APCAB," says Marie Carmela M. Lapitan A comprehensive article, "CONTINENCE PROMOTION IN ASIA", by Marie Carmela M. Lapitan, is summing up the Networking Meeting .. read more
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