Wound Awareness Week 26-30 March 2007

Australian of the Year Dr Fiona Wood,is supporting the activities and
objectives of Wound Awareness Week, which aims to raise awareness and understanding of the problem of chronic wounds in Australia.

Wound Awareness Week is currently being held from 26-30 March 2007. The week is examining issues and approaches to wound management, best practice and how dressing technologies can assist in management.

“Currently tens of thousands of Australia’s elderly community are living
with chronic wounds, and many of them are suffering severe pain. This
problem is exacerbated by lack of awareness of the problem and
insufficient funding for non-hospital treatment” said Ms Anne Trimmer,
MIAA CEO.

With the average age of the community set to dramatically increase over the next 30 years and increases in obesity and diabetes, the prevalence of slow to heal wounds and chronic wounds is likely to increase.

At present there is no funding or subsidy for wound care technologies
such as dressings and bandage systems outside of the hospital setting.
Improving access to wound care technology will provide better health
outcomes for patients and will also prove more cost effective by
reducing nursing time and speeding up patient recovery.
www.awma.com.au.