A time to remember that we all have a need, but for many across the world with disabilities of all kinds there is often a pressing need. That is so for very many with Crohn's and colitis too !

We do acknowledge that in some countries there are a number of public toilets for the disabled but these require a special key from the municipalities and are often only available to those who qualify.

So particularly on this special day and in the days after we want to ask all those in charge of public toilets, whether their maintenance of the building or in the design of new toilet facilities that you consider the special needs of those people who cannot wait and those with particular requests to use toilet facilities. 
 
Many of the patient associations provide Can't Wait Cards for their members and to the citizens we ask that if you are in a queue you give those people who ask to go ahead of you, consideration of their need.  For some, through urgency or sometimes unexpected incontinence, they cannot wait, but it is difficult to talk about it even in today's growing understanding of bodily functions.

Within Page 6 of the October 2007 EFCCA Newsletter that can be found in this website you will find a report about the introductions of the Access Card in another country - Portugal (www.apdi.org.pt) and also some words about our EFCCA colleagues at RMT Sweden  (www.magotarm.se) who have undertaken a survey, also about the design of toilet cubicles. The results have provided some creative ideas to improve toilets in general, so providing better facilities for people with inflammatory bowel diseases and a wide range of similar conditions.

Many organisations around the world have an interest in World Toilet Day and we ask that where possible you use this day in future years to highlight the needs in your country, municipality or village.  Why is it that the taboo remains and what can you do to help?

EFCCA Chairman, Rod Mitchell, speaking from Stockholm on 19 November 2007, where the RMT (Gut) patients organisation is working with local media to publicise the needs of the peoples in Sweden, congratulated the RMT team on their high profile initiative - which has led to much local and national publicity - and also in working with the Swedish Disability Association in raising other issues. He believes that it is by working together in raising awareness both among the citizens and with the politicians at all levels, that we can make a real difference to the lives of the many peoples with chronic conditions like Crohn's and colitis, wherever they may live.