World Ostomy Day 2012

EOA activities

World Ostomy Day 2012 will be celebrated on the 6 October 2012 and the theme will be “Lets be Heard !!!”

The aim of World Ostomy Day is to improve the rehabilitation of Ostomates worldwide by bringing to the attention of the general community and the global community the needs and aspirations of Ostomates and their families.

Activities to promote awareness may include: educational programs, seminars, support meetings and demonstrations/displays; electronic information networks, newspaper and magazine announcements/advertisements and articles. Publication of informative handout materials and brochures: audio and video announcements and films; personal visits and lobbying activities; official government proclamations and joint activities with allies agencies and professional health Associations

On this page all European associations can put information about their national WOD 2012 activities.
Send your contribution to the EOA Webmaster

Keep your eyes open for more details of World Ostomy Day 2012.

WOD Coordinators;
Ria Smeijers, President EOA and Anne Demick, contact person IOA

Czech Republic

WOD2012 Let's be heard – that is motto of international ostomy day, that was announced by International Ostomy Association for October, 06, 2012.

This project is welcome very warmly by Czech ILCO as the thought  of having an ostomy comes with fear and anxiety in sufferers. This is due mainly to a distorted view based on experiences of twenty or thirty years ago where the quality or care was at that time, inadequate,  but problems of social rehabilitation still exist and this is where the  Czech ILCO can help.
The Czech  ILCO has spent many years trying to counter the myths that have arisen from fears of an ostomy by supplying relevant information to persons who are in the Medical profession and to the general public. The information contains details about living with an ostomy and provides details of the various associations that give advice and help. This year Czech ILCO will continue to intensify their efforts in bringing these topics to the attention of governmental and medical organisations and educating the general public in these matters.

Here are some of the myths that circulate:

  • An ileostomy is necessary after colon cancer.
  • Sufferers would rather die than have an ostomy operation.
  • I am too young to have such an operation.
  • With an ostomy I can't go out and socialise with people.
  • I feel I can't tell anyone that I have an ostomy.
  • There is no one that can help me with this problem.

In order to counter some of these myths the Chairman of the Czech ILCO Marie Redinova will discuss them as part of her presentations  being held  at

  • 3. Prague´s Oncological Colloquium in Prague,  January 25th,
  • March 1st 2012 she will present  her  lecture Life with ostomy by patients with IBD,
  • on April 21st 2012 in Brno,
  • and  at  the NGO  Market,  National Technical Library, Prague on May 11, 2012. There is an open invitation to all concerned. NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) Market is the largest presentation of non-profitable organisations in Europe (info: www.FORUM2000.cz).

In 2011 one of our celebrated members actor, director, university lecturer and mime artist, Boris Hybner gave a very interesting presentation at this event on how to live a normal life with this condition.

Czech ILCO is presently preparing an international project 'Life without Limits' in collaboration with SLOVILCO and Deustsche ILCO. This project will seek to find out how people with an ostomy fair under the Charter rights in individual countries with emphasis being placed on the pre-operative care and follow up care for life.

We will keep you informed of other future events.

Marie Redinova/Czech ILCO