Poland

The highlight of our World IBD Day activities was the “toilet paper” battle – in this way we wanted to get attention from decision-makers to our problems such as lack of access to new biological therapies.

"We’re joking among ourselves that the voice coming from the toilet is barely audible, because the most common and troublesome symptom of IBD is persistent diarrhea. Hence the idea to celebrate our Day is for the IBD patient a kind of “coming out of the shadow” and also, in a cheerful and attractive way, showing our inflammatory problems "- said Dr Malgorzata Mossakowska, vice president of J-elita.

In Warsaw we started on the 17th with a press conference.  Then, on the 19th there were lectures and an outdoor event in the hospital’s gardens. Participants benefited from consultation with specialists, talking to other patients, visiting the stands of exhibitors, going to a first aid course, watching performances by dance groups and learning salsa dance steps. A jury chose the winner of the most interesting “toilet costume”. A Picnic ended with the toilet paper battle

Another toilet paper battle took place in Katowice. Anyone interested could take part in the fight (they just had to bring a colorful rolls of toilet paper and stick them in your hands - as a distinctive sign!). It started at 17.00. In the previous year a similar event attracted more than 250 people.

Wroclaw is the third city where we 19th of May was celebrated. To show the patients that the doctors thoroughly support our activities they presented several lectures for the patients and answer their questions.

As far as Krakow is concerned, our members organised and took part in a photo session entitled “WC out – coming out from the toilet” The pictures will be presented in all the other cities and published in several magazines

For more information please visit our website:
http://www.j-elita.org.pl/