Dear EOA Members, dear friends,
60th Anniversity of IA
During the weekend of 16 – 17 April 2016 IA (the Ileostomy and International Pouch Support Group) celebrated their 60th anniversity.
I was invited by the Board of IA to attend this special meeting in Hinkley, United Kingdom. It was very special for me to be together with more than 200 ileostoma patients, members of IA.
On Saturday morning 16th April, Professor Neil Mortensen, National President of IA, opened the meeting with a warm speech. “Looking Back- Moving Forward” was the theme for this National Meeting.
The program presented us with a lot of very interesting lectures:
- Advances in Endoscopy for IBD, by Dr. James East, gastroenterologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford
- The vital role of stoma care nurses in research and development, by Mrs Angie Perrin, Clinical Lead, Researchand Development from Salts Healthcare.
- The story of my life, by Mrs. Prisk, about her surgery 60 years ago and her life being a young stoma patient.
This moving story was very touching and emotional for me and all the paticipants.
During the meeting there was a lot of time for the members of IA to discuss the proposals concerning a new structure of IA. It was very interesting to hear the different opinions of the members about the suggested proposals.
It was nice to meet Jacky King, the successor of Anne Demick. Jacky is the new National Secretary of IA. As you probably know Anne Demick is retired of this position, but she is now elected as Chairman of the Executive Committee (EC) of IA.
The next day, during the morning programme I had the opportunity to congratulate the IA with the 60th anniversity on behald of the EOA-EC and all our 42 member associations.
To remember thisAnniversary and to motivate the IA in the future I presented on behalf of EOA a little bronze sculpture, named “Join Hands Together”.
Thanks to the Board of IA for inviting me to this well organized meeting of the National Council
I wish IA all the best for the future.
Best wishes,
Ria Smeijers
President EOA
The Netherlands, April 2016
