Title

APWCA2009 - Apr 04, 2009

Author(s)
  with John Macdonald, MD, FACS; Mary Jo Geyer, AAWC, PT, PhD, FCCWS, CLT-LANA, CPed

Presented at: Philadelphia, PA

Background
The chronic wound global epidemic is especially devastating in resource-poor settings. In recognition of an Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) program initiated in 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) authorized the AAWC to lead a collaboration of volunteer organizations1, the Working Group on Integration of Wound-Lymphedema Management across Diseases in Resource-Poor Settings in improving wound and lymphedema diagnosis and management in resource-poor settings.

Methods
This Global Alliance developed evidence-based Best Practice Recommendations for Wound and Lymphedema Management which were accepted as a WHO White Paper at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland March 5-6, 2008. Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), which administers and organizes AAWC-HVO Global Alliance-related volunteer activities, is developing supporting training modules and resources meeting WHO standards. Program sites are selected based on AAWC-HVO Global Alliance criteria of infrastructure, needs and resource assessments.

Results
By December 2009, WHO plans to publish the White Paper in six languages. This will provide foundations for multidisciplinary volunteer educational and training programs developed by AAWC-HVO Global Alliance and coordinated through the HVO member-only web-based portal. At present AAWC membership is required to volunteer. Qualifying Canadian Association of Wound Care (CAWC) member volunteers will receive AAWC membership from the CAWC. AAWC-HVO qualified sites requesting volunteers include Cambodia (2 sites), India, Peru and St. Lucia.

Conclusion
Volunteers wishing to conduct educational and training programs are invited to learn more at aawconline.org or by contacting HVO

References
1. Geyer, MJ. Perspectives from the first AAWC Global Alliance Project. WOUNDS, 2008; 20(10):A21-A25