Improving the life of people with IBD

WHO WE ARE

The European Federation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) represents 46 national Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis (collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) patient associations. We are an organization of people united in our commitment to improve the life of over 10 million people living with IBD worldwide (3.4 million in Europe alone) and to give them a louder voice and more visibility.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Networking

We encourage and facilitate the exchange of information and the promotion of international activities. We collaborate with other umbrella associations such as the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) representing the medical profession, the United European Gastroenterologists Federation (UEGF), the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) and many other networks and organisations working in the health related field.

Awareness raising

Through World IBD Day and other initiatives we want to raise awareness about IBD as there is still little public understanding of the pain and chronic suffering with which IBD patients courageously cope every day of their lives.

Advocacy

We carry out advocacy work with the EU institutions and international organisations such as the WHO to ensure that patients´ concerns are included in the decision making process for policies and other related health initiatives.

Empowerment

Through the exchange of best practise and capacity building activities such as educational seminars, thematic workshops and policy initiatives we support our members in their work and mission at national level.

Solidarity

We assist in the establishment of new associations in countries where they do not yet exist offering our support and advice. Through World IBD Day and other activities and events we bring the IBD community together in our common fight against IBD.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the life of people with Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis collectively referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Vision

Our vision is to find a cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

EFCCA Governing Board

Chairperson: Salvo Leone

CEO of the Italian IBD Patient Association (AMICI Onlus)

E-mail: salvo.leone@efcca.org

Honorary Secretary and Vice President: Ciara Drohan

Member of the Irish Society for Colitis and Crohns Disease (ISCC)

E-mail: ciara.drohan@efcca.org

Treasurer: Marko Perovic

Member of the Serbian IBD association (UKUKS)

E-mail: marko.perovic@efcca.org

Board member: Magdalena Sajak-Szczerba

Secretary of the Board of the Polish IBD Association (Towarzystwo "J-elita")

E-mail: magdalena.sajak@efcca.org

Board member: Lucie Laštíková

Vice President of the Czech IBD Association (Pacienti IBD)

E-mail: lucie@crohn.cz

EFCCA Staff

CEO: Luisa Avedano
E-mail: luisa.avedano@efcca.org

Deputy Director: Isabella Haaf

E-mail: Bella.haaf@efcca.org

European Project Officer: Maria Stella De Rocchis
E-mail: mariastella.derocchis@efcca.org

Finance Project Officer: Tatiana Negurita

E-mail: tatiana.negurita@efcca.org

EFCCA History

Following the identification of IBD as a recognisable chronic illness, specific self-help groups began to appear cross Europe. By the mid 1980s, most of the groups which now constitute the European National Associations for Crohn's and Colitis patients had been formed. Further development of these organisations has reflected the growth of IBD diagnosis, the increasing visibility of the benefits of self-help associations and their increasing roles.

In the beginning of the 90s a small group of IBD associations from the Netherlands, UK, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium got together with the idea of setting up a European Federation of IBD associations. The aim then was to encouragethe exchange of information and the promotion of international activities, including knowledge exchange with Crohn’s and Colitis organisations in other parts of the world and to assist in establishing new associations in European countries where they did not exist yet.