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World Ostomy Day
World Ostomy Day is celebrated on the first Saturday of October every three years, the next being Saturday 4thOctober, 2025, with the motto ‘Invisible Disabilities : Visible Support – The Global Unity of Ostomates’. The theme brings light to uncover the invisible ostomy and create visible support. Fostering conversation, global awareness, and ensuring equity for our communities around the world.
The idea of the World Ostomy Day was established in 1993 by Professor Dr Gerhard Englert, who at that time was President of the International Ostomy Association. The purpose of the day was to raise public awareness of the condition and improve the quality of life for people living with a stoma.
In the intervening years, the day is recognised as Ostomy Awareness Day, but carries the same motto.
Each World Ostomy Day has a new motto. Here are the previous mottos over the years:
| Year | English Motto | German Motto |
| 1993 | Availability of ostomy supplies – a fundamental right for ostomy patients. Information about living with a stoma: hope for ostomy patients. | 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! |
| 2025 | Invisible Disabilities : Visible Support – The Global Unity of Ostomates |
Unsichtbare Behinderungen: Sichtbare Unterstützung – Die globale Einheit der Stomaträger |
