We celebrated World Ostomy Day in Estonia 05th October.
The event was very nice. Sulev Võrno performed with very warm and beautiful program. Also we sheared the stories from others countries and confirmed that our life here in Estonia is good. Products and support is available.
We invite you to watch this beautiful video in which people with a stoma share their stories and convince us that the stoma is not an obstacle in life. Sometimes it opens up new opportunities, and sometimes it saves lives. The film was made on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Icelandic ostomy association ISILCO. It is available with English and Polish subtitles.
At the WOD, it was particularly important to us to set a visible sign with our information stand in the park in front of Vienna’s city hall. In accordance with the motto of the EOA, we wanted to draw attention to the rights of us ostomates. For the implementation, we found some ideas on the website of our colleagues from the Czech Republic.
Every three years in the beginning of October Russian Association of ostomy patients ASTOM, member of the European Association of ostomy patients, as well as other ostomy organizations around the world celebrates the World Ostomy Day and organizes different events in Moscow and other regions of Russia.
On October 4th, the French ostomy association “Union Stomisés Grand Sud” is organizing a 5 hours online-meeting for the French speaking countries and people. It begins at 15 o’clock (Central European Summertime CEST – which means 14 o’clock British Summertime BST) and ends with the official closure at 20 o’clock CEST. People related to ostomy affairs and representatives of ostomy associations from Europe, Canada and several African countries are involved as speakers.
Although ostomy care has improved significantly in the past decades, some people with ostomy, does still not have access to basic rights, that enable them to live a self-determined and independent life – even in developed countries.
Below patients from around the world share their experiences of being diagnosed and living with ostomy, to ensure the patient voice is heard in efforts to improve ostomy information and care.
World Ostomy Day is celebrated every 3 years in the beginning of October. The next will be October, 2021.
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.
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
Yes, we can!
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
2021
Ostomates’ Rights are Human Rights – anytime and anywhere!
Die Rechte von Stomaträgern sind Menschenrechte – immer und überall!