Strategy: Do We Have One?

Providing care for patients with wounds is a major undertaking that requires numerous resources and the talents and abilities of many dedicated individuals. The number of people in the United States suffering with acute, chronic, and hard to heal wounds is staggering and increasing. Do we have a strategy to help this seemingly overlooked group?      

In the United States and other developed countries there are health agencies, healthcare professional organizations, and others striving to meet the needs of patients with wounds—but what about patients in undeveloped countries who have no such organizations? In this column and articles in this journal, you have read about the initiatives of groups such as the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) that strive to teach healthcare professionals in undeveloped countries how to manage patients with wounds and lymphedema. It is impossible that these initiatives in six or seven countries can begin to meet the need worldwide. Fortunately, there are other organizations that are willing to help.

The Canadian Association of Wound Care, the European Wound Management Association, Handicap International, Médecins Sans Frontières, the International Lymphedema Framework, and others have major initiatives around the world to help underdeveloped countries meet the needs of patients with wounds and lymphedema. Unfortunately, despite all the great work being done, the efforts are fragmented and lack direction. A strategy to bring these efforts together and maximize the effectiveness of these tremendous organizations is greatly needed. I am pleased to announce that as of October 16, 2009, a strategy to organize and maximize everyone’s efforts in the worldwide management of wounds and lymphedema is now in place.

This initiative began when more than 30 representatives from 17 countries met in Geneva, Switzerland October 14–16, 2009. The World Alliance for Wound and Lymphedema Care (WAWLC) was formed as a result of that meeting. The mission statement of the WAWLC is: “Working in partnership with communities worldwide to advance sustainable prevention and care of wounds and lymphedema in settings with limited resources.” All involved believe that this initiative will offer a new opportunity for cooperation among all individuals and organizations that have an interest in caring for patients with wounds and/or lymphedema. This Alliance is supported by the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the WHO and will be working closely with the WHO as the initiatives move forward.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. John Macdonald, Past President of the AAWC, was elected as the Secretariat (Director) of the organization. The goals of the group are monumental to say the least. Education for all levels of healthcare providers regarding wound and lymphedema care is basic and foremost, but resources to provide care must be available. Projects to identify and evaluate local wound and lymphedema treatments will be undertaken with the hope that affordable, available care can be provided. Guidelines for treatment will be determined but must be done with care to include local customs and attitudes. If neither the people providing the treatment nor the people receiving the treatment believe in the care being provided, the program will not be successful. In our wound center we would call these people “non-compliant,” but in this situation we have to realize this would be “program failure.”

As the wound and lymphedema groups around the world unite, we can truthfully say we now have a strategy to begin to effectively accomplish our goal of helping those in need.

“The important thing is not what we are able to give, but that we do give to others in need.”¹
—Melvin L. Cheatham, MD, neurosurgeon