World IBD Day

World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day – World IBD Day is commemorated on 19 May with the aim of informing the public about the difficulties encountered by the persons affected with these chronic and incurable diseases. Those affected and their families must be provided with quality daily life.

The Association of Patients with Morbus Crohn and Ulcerative Colitis of BiH was founded on 25 March 2002 and has more than 1.300 members of all ages in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It provides support and assistance to patients, especially by advocating for the improvement of the health, social and legal status of patients. The number of people with inflammatory bowel diseases in the world is estimated to be 5 million, while their number in BiH is greater than 1.450. The Association carries out various activities in order to make the public more aware of the diseases and problems faced by those affected and their families. One of them is the song “Disease is Not the End”, recorded by well-known persons from BiH who have thus supported the work of the Association. Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post) Mostar has joined the commemoration of the World IBD Day by issuing a commemorative postage stamp designed by fine art photographer Samir Hadžić. The photograph titled “Albero Della Vita” or “Tree of Life” represents the unbreakable bond between earth and heaven. It is a symbol of nature, strength, wisdom, and eternal life, that which we should aspire after every day, and which we are aware of only when we fall ill. The triangle, in the purple color that represents this disease, symbolizes the coexistence in this area.

(Željka Šaravanja)