World Gastroenterology Organisation

About the WGO
The World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) is an international professional medical federation of over 100 national GI societies and 4 regional associations of gastroenterology representing over 50,000 individual members.

The organisation is focused on “the improvement of standards in gastroenterology training and education on a global scale.”

The association was founded in 1935 and incorporated in 1958. The WGO was originally know as the Organisation Mondiale de Gastroenterologie (OMGE) and was renamed the World Gastroenterology Organisation in 2006.

Its activities include educational initiatives such as Training Centers, Train the Trainers Workshops, public awareness campaigns such as World Digestive Health Day and Global Guidelines which cascade, providing viable solutions which are adaptable to varying resource levels around the world, as well as a quadrennial World Congress of Gastroenterology.

The WGO Foundation was incorporated in 2007 and is dedicated to raising fund to support the ongoing WGO education initiatives and activities.

History
Georges Brohée (1887 – 1957), a Belgian Surgeon who promoted modern Gastroenterology, is largely responsible for the origin of the WGO, in particular by founding the Belgian Society of Gastroenteroloigy in 1928 and by organizing the first International Congress of Gastroenterology in Brussels in 1935. In May of 1958 the first World Congress of Gastroenterology was held in Washington DC, where Georges Brohée’s continuing efforts culminated in the constitution of the "Organisation Mondiale de Gastro-entérologie" (OMGE) on May 29, 1958.

Dr H.L. Bockus was the organisation’s first President. His vision was to enhance standards of education and training in gastroenterology.

Developed nations were the initial focus of the organisation, however today the WGO embraces a global approach with a special emphasis on developing regions

Objectives
The WGO has the following objectives :


 * To promote public awareness of digestive disorders world-wide
 * To provide the highest standards in education and training in gastroenterology throughout the world and objectively assess the outcomes thereof
 * To create an educational network readily accessible and relevant to gastroenterologists in emerging societies to support their local professional development
 * To promote multi-disciplinary approaches to primary prevention, screening, early detection and optimal care of digestive cancers
 * To promote an ethical approach to all aspects of the practice of gastroenterology
 * To promote the formation of national gastroenterological organizations
 * To support and collaborate closely with all organizations interested in digestive disorders, including nursing, other healthcare workers and patient advocacy groups
 * To solicit financial support for the purpose of undertaking WGO’s global and emerging society programs and activities
 * To regularly communicate WGO’s strategic plan, activities and outcomes to its constituents

Structure
General management of the WGO is conducted by a Governing Council. Acting through the Governing Council, the organisation is empowered to undertake those activities necessary to fulfil the goals and mission of the WGO.

A General Assembly reviews and approves the work of the Governing Council and attends to other business (including the World Congress venue). The General Assembly is comprised of representatives from all member societies and regional associations. Each national society has one vote in the General Assembly.

Furthermore, the WGO has a number of committees including


 * Finance Committee
 * WGO Guidelines and Publicaitons Committee
 * Nominations Committee
 * Education & Training Committee
 * Editorial Board

The elections and renewal of the WGO officers and committees takes place on the occasion of the General Assembly, which is held during the quadrennial World Congress of Gastroenterology.

Training Centers
There are currently 13 WGO Training Centers:


 * Bangkok, Thailand
 * Bogota, Colombia
 * Cairo, Egypt
 * Karachi, Pakistan
 * La Paz, Bolivia
 * La Plata, Argentina
 * Mexico City, Mexico
 * Rabat, Morocco
 * Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
 * Rome, Italy
 * Santiago, Chile
 * Soweto, South Africa
 * Suva, Fiji

Cancer Education (IDCA)
The International Digestive Cancer Alliance (IDCA) is an official Division of WGO. Its stated global mission is to “promote awareness, screening, early detection, primary prevention and treatment of digestive cancers to governments, the general public and to medical practitioners through educational activities, including WGO’s Training Centers and Train the Trainers programs".

Global Guidelines
Current WGO Guidelines include:


 * Acute diarrhea
 * Asymptomatic Gallstone Disease
 * Celiac Disease
 * Colorectal cancer screening
 * Constipation
 * Diverticular Disease
 * Dysphagia
 * Endoscope Disinfection
 * Esophageal Varices
 * Helicobacter Pylori in developing countries
 * Hepatitis B
 * Malabsorption
 * Management of acute viral Hepatitis
 * Management of Ascites Complicating Cirrhosis in Adults
 * Management of Strongyloidiasis
 * Needle Stick Injury and Accidental Exposure to Blood
 * Osteoporosis
 * Probiotics and Prebiotics
 * Strategies for Reducing the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance

Ad Campaigns
In 2008, the WGO, together with Danone, launched a global campaign to improve digestive health, titled “Optimum Health and Nutrition.” The campaign is part of a three year partnership between WGO and Danone to “help raise awareness of digestive disorders and the importance of maintaining good digestive health.”.

World Digestive Health Day / Year
The WGO celebrates World Digestive Health Day (WDHD) every May 29th, initiating a worldwide public health campaign through its national societies and 50,000 individual members. Each year, WDHD focuses upon a particular digestive disorder and seeks to increase general public awareness of prevention and therapy. WDHD themes have included :


 * 2005: Health and Nutrition
 * 2006: Helicobacter pylori infection
 * 2007: Viral Hepatitis
 * 2008: Optimal Nutrition in Health and Disease
 * 2009: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
 * 2010: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Foundation
The WGO Foundation was established in 2007 to raise financial support to develop and sustain the World Gastroenterology Organisation’s global training and education programs. These programs focus primarily on developing, low-resource countries and aim to meet the increasing demand for digestive disorder prevention and treatment worldwide..”

Objectives
The WGO Foundation’s objective is to raise financial and in-kind resources to enable to WGO to realise it’s goals and objectives.

The Directors are elected for a 3 year term.

Activities
The WGO Foundation has fundraising activities including Initiating fundraising campaigns:
 * 50th Anniversary Fund for the Future
 * Global Mentor Fund
 * Working in partnership programs with industry, philanthropic organizations etc...
 * Appealing to healthcare, wellness and other business organizations for donations/pledges
 * Applying for grants from international philanthropic organizations and public bodies
 * Appealing to eminent physicians to support Mentor Scholar Awards for trainees from developing low-resource countries
 * Appealing to our WGO membership of 50’000
 * Appealing to the general public

The WGO Foundation raises money to support the WGO’s Training & Education and public awareness activities