Swiss Crohn's Disease / Ulcerative Colitis Association

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The Swiss Crohn's Disease / Ulcerative Colitis Association (SMCCV) operates under the brand name CROHN COLITIS SCHWEIZ and is a Swiss patient organization for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) . The organization is based in Aarau .

background

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are among the most common diseases in Switzerland: one in 350 people, i.e. over 25,000 people, suffer from them. CROHN COLITIS SWITZERLAND (SMCCV) has been the most important point of contact for those affected for many years.

The SMCCV was founded on April 5, 1986 by 20 members and is a non-profit organization and politically and denominationally neutral. The SMCCV is linked to the other European Crohn's and Colitis Organizations in the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations . In this structure, 34 national Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis associations from Europe with a total of over 1 million members have come together. They try to inform and help their members through various joint projects.

What does IBD mean?

Affected people and their relatives exchange ideas during meetings and seminars.

Under the collective term chronic inflammatory bowel disease , clinical pictures are summarized that are characterized by intermittent, recurring or continuously occurring inflammatory changes in the bowel. These diseases lead to symptoms such as diarrhea with blood or mucus in the stool, severe abdominal pain and symptoms of other organ systems. The reason for this inflammation is an excessive reaction of the immune system to the body's own germs or cells that are normally in the intestines. The trigger for this reaction remains unclear despite intensive research. There are more and more effective therapies, but still no cure. A number of complementary medicine drugs and support are available, primarily aimed at suppressing inflammation and preventing complications from developing. In severe cases, surgical interventions are also an option. The most common inflammatory bowel diseases are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Members and activities

The SMCCV has over 2,600 members (as of 2018) who benefit from the numerous advantages and actively work for the benefit of others.

During regular information events, members get an insight into the latest findings from research and (complementary) medicine.
  • Public information events throughout Switzerland on the latest findings from medicine and research
  • Advice by email for those affected and their relatives
  • Telephone nutritional advice
  • Financial participation in coaching and / or support
  • Legal advice by email (or post)
  • Regularly appearing members' magazine as well as special issues with key topics (e.g. therapies, legal advice, intimacy)
  • Possibility of obtaining a «eurokeys» (key for disabled toilets)
  • «Can't wait Card» patient card
  • Opportunity to ask selected gastroenterologists (anonymously) specific questions
  • Excursion and other events together with other affected parties to exchange experiences
  • Contact with regional groups
  • Parent / child meeting
  • Young-adult meeting (18 to 35 years)
  • Information and active exchange via social media channels, especially Facebook
  • Free phone number 0800 79 00 79 for advice and help as well as nutritional advice
  • Information via website www.smccv.ch
The members consciously live the you culture among each other and thus underline the trust and understanding.

Further commitment of the SMCCV:

  • Demand and enforcement for justified services and concerns against authorities and institutions in the social and health sector.
  • As a lobby organization, the SMCCV works to improve the overall situation of IBD sufferers and to ensure good care, represents the interests of this group and thus represents a weight in health policy.
  • The SMCCV works regularly with other patient organizations and is represented in several committees and working groups, e. B. Swissmedic, IBDnet, SVEP (Swiss Association of Endoscopy Assistance Personnel) and a few more.
  • In addition, the SMCCV conducts public relations / media work with the aim of imparting knowledge about chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, promoting understanding of the concerns and problems of those affected, and reducing prejudice.

Many find themselves in self-isolation due to the illness and the lack of understanding in society. The SMCCV breaks the taboo subject intestines. The greater awareness of IBD is intended to reduce misunderstandings and improve the feeling for the fears, worries and concerns of those affected.

Board members are themselves affected by inflammatory bowel disease and do volunteer work.

research

The SMCCV is actively participating in the IBD cohort study, which has been financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) since 2005. The aim of the “Swiss IBD Cohort Study” (SIBDCS) is to collect data on the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and to gain new epidemiological findings on these diseases. This should serve to better understand inflammatory bowel diseases in their development and their influence on the lives of those affected. With the knowledge gained, the long-term care and therapy of those affected with inflammatory bowel disease can be improved.

World IBD day

World IBD Day takes place annually on May 19th.

The SMCCV sets a strong purple symbol for the more than 25,000 affected people in Switzerland on May 19, international World IBD Day. To this end, various information campaigns will be launched and an event will be held on the day of action to raise public awareness of the concerns and problems of those affected.

Donations / sponsoring

The SMCCV is financed by membership fees and donations. Thanks to additional financial support from sponsors, the patient organization can provide more and better information and organize numerous other events for the benefit of those affected. Donations and project-oriented sponsoring serve to continue research, not only in the medical field, but also with regard to social problems that are related to it.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ SWISS IBDcohort. Retrieved January 7, 2018 .