Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic
AROUND THE WORLD
The types and severity of POP vary from area to area around the globe; in undeveloped areas women suffering with severe POP are often ostracized from their communities as well as have to deal with the physical pain or discomfort of pelvic organ prolapse. As information becomes available for other regions of the world, I'd like to help spread awareness of the impact of POP to these individual groups of women. Any physicians who have access to POP statistics in undeveloped areas of the world and would be willing to share them, please contact Sherrie at
AMERICANS FOR UNFPA
Within developed countries, lack of awareness about POP is the key issue. In undeveloped countries, besides the impact to physical health, women also suffer greatly from lack of education asa well as social discrimination. Americans for UNFPA is an organization dedicated to the promotion of the health, education, and rights of women globally. To access additional information, click on the link below.
http://www.americansforunfpa.org
"Our aim is not merely to keep women alive and uninjured. We are fighting for the basic human right of every woman to a life of health, dignity, and respect."
Anika Rahman
President, Americans for UNFPA
IOWD
International Organization for Women and Development is an organization dedicated to assisting other countries with female health care and education. The founder Barbara Margolies spent a substantial amount of time in Africa prior to establishing this organization. What initially was a program to provide medical care for women in Niger suffering with fistula damage has expanded into multiple programs in additional areas of Africa as well as Vietnam. They currently are initiating fistula and POP education for physicians in outreach areas as well as healthcare for women; IOWD also furnishes medical equipment and supplies through money donated from multiple sources. Physicians throughout the US volunteer their time to go into these regions to teach as well as perform much needed surgeries for women. IOWD is also active in the health and education of children within the areas they go to as well as some social programs. For more information on this group, go to their website.
"We look forward to the new roads we have begun to walk down...we are confident that we can make a difference in th elives of many other women in different countries. We are strong, we are solid, we are dedicated. Unquestionably, IOWD will continue to bring hope and help wherever we go..."
Barbara Margolies
Founder/Executive Director, IOWD
NEPAL
Uterine Prolapse is the leading cause of ill health for women in Nepal.
Uterine prolapse is one of the most widespread female health and social issues in Nepal. Over 600,000 women in Nepal suffer from uterine prolapse, 24% of them between the ages of 45 and 49. This condition creates an environment of rejection for these women, oftentimes from entire communities. Currently Nepal is trying to create global awareness about these conditions and develop laws to protect their women from domestic violence, condemnation, and discrimination.
VIETMAN
An IOWD team of 10 physicians and nurses traveled to Hanoi in October 2009 to lecture and perform surgical repairs as part of on-going plan to assist Vietnamese physicians with their interest in establishing a new program for prolapse, incontinence, and fistula repairs for the women of Vietnam. This is a first for Vietnam, the status quo for this area like most countries througout the world is incontinence and POP are not talked about, these health issues are hidden from view. Two of the Vietnamese physicians participating in this program will then travel to the US to do an Observer Fellowship for 6-8 weeks.
