The Bay of Plenty Crohn's and Colitis Support Groups is giving people the chance to see what the organisation is all about with stand outside Countdown in Bayfair today.

The group wants to raise awareness of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) in the Bay of Plenty.

Spokesperson Chanelle McLennan says IBD is the least known about disease.

She says a survey has been launched by Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand and health care company Abbot.

The survey is designed to 'uncover the burden of inflammatory bowel disease and improve understanding and awareness of IBD in New Zealand.

NZCC chairman Brian Poole is pleased to be taking up the fight against IBD by launching the survey.

He says recent studies show New Zealand has a high incidence of IBD with approximately 15,000 New Zealanders living with IBD.

IBD refers to three different diseases – Crohn's Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Indeterminate Colitis (IC).

'We have a very high rate of IBD in New Zealand, so it is crucial we understand the impact of the diseases locally and what needs to be done to improve the quality of life of people living with them.

'Driving the call to action is the release of the European IMPACT survey results, undertaken by the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA).

'The European survey, which was carried out in 27 countries, found 64 per cent of respondents with IBD required emergency care before their diagnosis and an even larger portion, 85 per cent, had been admitted to hospital due to their condition in the past five years.”

For more information about the disease visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.nz