II European Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week 15-21 November 2010 was a unique opportunity for the Polish Society Against Cystic Fibrosis to raise once more the problem of inadequate level of care provided for CF patients by the Polish state-funded healthcare system. The Society focused on three main problems which have significant impact on shortened lifespan of CF patients in Poland, i.e.:

1. Lack of isolation of CF patients in hospital wards, as there is no CF centre in Poland which would fulfill the European standards of CF treatment
2. Unavailability of home-based intravenous antibiotic therapy
3. Unavailability of lung transplantations in Poland and significant restrictions in state-financing of this treatment abroad

The Polish Society Against Cystic Fibrosis included the call for implementation of appropriate standards of care of CF patients in Poland in its invitation to participate in the EU Parliament session devoted to CF which was sent to all Polish MP’s.

During the CF Awareness Week we launched an internet campaign: Cystic Fibrosis? I know, I understand, I help. The campaign was available on Society’s website: www.ptwm.org.pl as well as facebook profile and other social media. During the campaign each day we shared with the Polish publicity the information about the disease, the everyday life of the CF patients, costs of treatment and discrepancy between Poland and other EU countries when the level of state-funded treatment is concerned. In the period between 15 and 21 November 3 386 unique visitors performed a total 17 455 visits on the campaign sites.

Polish Society Against Cystic Fibrosis – Internet campaign logo

The Polish Society Against Cystic Fibrosis distributed also information leaflets and posters in hospitals providing care for CF patients. Approximately 1 000 story-books were donated for the hospital wards treating CF children.

During the II European Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week the toll-free telephone line 0 800 111 169 was available as well as press-release information was published in numerous Polish media, including radio and health-related internet portals.