The speach of Jon Thorkelsson, President of EOA for ostomates in Russia.
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The idea of the World Ostomy Day was born in 1993 and its father is Professor Dr. Gerhard Englert who at that time was the President of IOA. The purpose of the day was to raise public awareness of the condition and improve the quality of life people with a stoma.
World Ostomy Day is celebrated every 3 years in the beginning of October. This year the date is October 6th, 2018.
Each WOD has the new motto. Here is the list how it was over years:
| Year | English Motto | German Motto |
| 1993 | Verfügbarkeit von Stomaartikeln – ein Grundrecht von Stomaträgern. Information über das Leben mit dem Stoma: Hoffnung für Stomaträger | |
| 1996 | Cooperation – Key to Ostomy Rehabilitation | Zusammenarbeit – Schlüssel zur Rehabilitation |
| 1999 | Together into the next Millennium | Zusammen ins nächste Jahrtausend |
| 2002 | Let’s work together – united we are strong! | Zusammenarbeit – gemeinsam sind wir stark! |
| 2006 | Living life to the full | Voll im Leben stehen |
| 2009 | Reaching out | Das Leben bewusst ergreifen / Eine helfende Hand reichen |
| 2012 | Let’s be heard! | Wir möchten Gehör finden! |
| 2015 | Many stories, one voice | Vielen Schicksalen eine Stimme geben |
| 2018 | Speaking Out Changes Lives | Offenheit verändert Leben |
