UEG Digestive Health Month in May
UEG to shine the light on digestive health in Europe:
UEG Digestive Health Month in May
(Brussels, May 3, 2016) The first UEG Digestive Health month, organised by United European Gastroenterology (UEG), will take place in May. It is being held to raise awareness of digestive health conditions in Europe and to highlight opportunities to help advance the treatment and prevention of related diseases.
Among the initiatives being organised by UEG will be two events in the European Parliament to draw attention to digestive health conditions, many of which are often ignored:
- On May 26, a policy discussion will be held to highlight the importance of screening for two of the most common digestive cancers, colorectal and pancreatic. ‘Prevention, Promotion and Screening: European Code Against Cancer’ will be hosted by MEP Pavel Poc and organised in collaboration with the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and MEPs Against Cancer (MAC) to coincide with the European Week Against Cancer (May 25 to May 31).
- On May 31 and June 1, UEG will organise a policy debate and exhibition focused on Digestive Health and Children. This event will be hosted by MEP Michèle Rivasi and will bring together doctors, patients, the European Commission and researchers to mobilise support for change in paediatric digestive health.
The future health of European nations will be determined by the health of today’s children and early detection is the key to a more healthy society. UEG will therefore be highlighting the importance of good digestive health as part of a healthy lifestyle amongst all ages, especially children.
“At least 30% of the European population will be affected by a digestive condition at least once during their lifetime,” says Professor Thierry Ponchon, Chair of the UEG Public Affairs Committee. “More than 600 million patients aged over 60 suffered from a digestive disease in the year 2000 and this number is expected to double to 1.2 billion by 2025. More worrying, is that the incidence of childhood gastrointestinal disorders is increasing in many European countries yet diagnosis rates are still low,” he says. We must therefore act now and make European digestive health a higher priority on the health agenda and drive change in treatment provision, patient care and prevention strategies in order to ensure better health for the next generation.”
In addition to events in the European Parliament, UEG Digestive Health Month will also feature in social media, via the hashtag #DigestiveHealthMonth, to engage policymakers, the public and associations across Europe.
Further details on UEG Digestive Health Month in May can be found at www.ueg.eu/eu-affairs/activities or from the UEG Brussels Office on +32 2 536 86 68 or publicaffairs@ueg.eu
Notes to Editors
About UEG
UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy. This makes UEG the most comprehensive organisation of its kind in the world, and a unique platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge. Find out more by visiting www.ueg.eu
To advance standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across Europe and the world, UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including:
- UEG Week, the biggest congress of its kind in Europe, and one of the two largest in the world. NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
- UEG Education, the universal source of knowledge in gastroenterology, providing online and classroom courses, a huge online library and delivering the latest GI news, fostering debate and discussion
- Training Support, funding for innovative training and educational programmes, as well as international scientific and professional co-operations
- UEG Journal, published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology
- EU Affairs, promoting research, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, and helping develop an effective health policy for Europe
About Professor Thierry Ponchon
Professor Thierry Ponchon is from the Herriot University Hospital in Lyon, France. He is a UEG endoscopy specialist and a member of the ESGE Quality Improvement Committee.
To interview Professor Ponchon, or for further information, please contact Luke Paskins at UEG on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu
About Association of European Cancer Leagues
The role of ECL is to facilitate the collaboration between cancer leagues throughout Europe and to influence EU and pan-European policies. The mission of the Association of European Cancer Leagues is to influence and improve cancer control and cancer care in Europe through collaboration between its members in their fight against cancer, and to influence EU and pan-European policies.
About MEPs Against Cancer
MAC is a group of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) dedicated to supporting cancer prevention and control at the EU level and beyond. MAC is led by MEP Alojz Peterle.
About MEP Pavel Poc
Pavel Poc is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Czech Republic and is a member of S&D Group (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament). MEP Poc is a Vice Chair of the ENVI Committee and Vice Chair of initiative MEPs Against Cancer.
About MEP Michèle Rivasi
Michèle Rivasi is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from France and is a Vice-Chair of Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance. MEP Rivasi is a member of the ENVI Committee.
