During the general assembly in Dubrovnik EFCCA changed chairman. Rod Mitchel stepped back after being chairman for the past 10 years. For his outstanding service for EFCCA, Rod received lots of compliments and many heartfelt words of gratitude. Among other things Rod was praised for his limitless commitment for EFCCA, which contributed significantly to the visibility of EFCCA in the world of IBD.

Rod's successor is Marco Greco from Italy, who has been active in EFCCA for 9 years and among other things created the youngsters group within EFCCA.

Many European associations for people with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (together known as "Inflammatory Bowel Disease"; IBD) sensed that their members would like to contribute to scientific research to improve IBD treatments.  The associations concluded that a joint initiative to meet these needs would have a much better chance of success than individual initiatives. Within the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) this idea was developed. 

Travelling in Europe whatever the season

On the EFCCA site you will find Travelling with IBD fact-sheets for some of the EFCCA member European countries. Others will be added over time. Click here to see those already available.

Across Greece as of January 2008 there are a number of formal or informal Crohn's and colitis patient groups and in recent years a number of events have been held  for people with IBD, primarily in Athens, Saloniki, and on the island of Crete.

The following  information may be of help to all those with an interest in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (otherwise known as inflammatory bowel disease - IBD), in Greece:

• Attica IBD Patients Association: this association  was officially established in year 2006 and is based in Athens. The Attica Greek language website is at: http://www.crohnhellas.gr  An English language leaflet about the association is also available by contacting the Attica Association.  
• North Greece IBD Patients Society: during 2007 arrangements have made to form a North Greece IBD Patients Society, which is based in Thessaloniki. Initial information (in the Greek language) about the society can be found via: http://ibd-gr.blogspot.com/
• Cretan IBD Patients Association: the Cretan association is currently inactive,  so readers who presently need information regarding Crete may like to contact the Attica IBD Patients Association who will be pleased to assist.  

EFCCA has been encouraging the development of an All Hellenic Crohn's and Colitis Patient Organisation so that  it might become part of the EFCCA "family". To assist we have been working with the present Greek IBD Patients associations, Gastroenterologists and other healthcare stakeholders, including the ECCO Doctor representatives.

As appropriate we would encourage visitors to the EFCCA website,whether from Greece or those living in other parts of the world to contact the Greek associations, to join them and to help in whatever you can as they develop their IBD patient organisation(s).   

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Note: We would of course similarly encourage those who visit the EFCCA website and live in Europe and who are not in touch with their own country association to see how those patient associations help people with IBD and their families. Click here for the link to the contact details of the 23 EFCCA member national associations.