Ostomy Awareness Day (World Ostomy Day)

In 1993 Professor Dr. Gerhard Englert proposed the idea to organize World Ostomy Day.

The aim was to draw attention for people with a stoma and pouch, their quality of life, on regional, national and international level.

Every three years, in the beginning of October, many associations in the whole world organize activities and meetings.

Ostomy Awareness Day is sponsored by United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) and is celebrated every year on the first Saturday in October. Also World Ostomy Day as noted is only held every 3 years. The next World Ostomy Day will be in 2021.

The United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc. is a 501 nonprofit organization that supports, empowers, and advocates for people who have had or who will have ostomy or continent diversion surgery. Over 725,000 Americans are living with an ostomy, and over 100,000 new life-saving ostomy surgeries occur in America yearly. You need answers—so you’ve reached the right site for information, help, and support.

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

Source: ostomyinternational.org | ostomy.org

In 2020 Ostomy Awareness Day (World Ostomy Day) in USA falls on October 3.