An iPhone application that's just been developed will seem quirky to most, but for the 15,000 New Zealanders who suffer from Crohn's disease and colitis it's relieving technology.
The application is a toilet map that uses GPS to locate the nearest toilet and it's technology worth having for those with Crohn's
and colitis who often find themselves in need of a rest room.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of Crohn's disease in the world.
The incurable form of chronic inflammatory bowel disease has symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, rectal bleeding and weight loss.
This week, however, sufferers got their own support group, Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand (CCNZ), and its launch was marked by the debut of the Toilet Map for iPhones.
The new group also unveiled "Art-a-loo", a collaborative art exhibit that saw New Zealand artists create works of art from Port-A-loos, aimed at raising awareness of the daily challenge sufferers face.
Chairman of the new organisation, Brian Poole, said Crohn's often went undiagnosed because people were embarrassed by the stigma associated with the disease and its symptoms.
"The cost to New Zealand is huge in monetary, but also emotional and social costs and in fact may be higher as many people remain unaware they have the condition," Mr Poole said.
For more information visit www.crohnsandcolitis.co.nz
