Every three years ostomy organizations around the world celebrate World Ostomy Day and October, 2, 2021 was the 10th time this special event was held. This year’s motto as designated by the European Ostomy Association was “Ostomates’ Rights are Human Rights – anytime and anywhere!”
Let us know how you celebrated the day tag us on social media or email.
There were many excellent online events this year. See below for the available recorded events.
This World Ostomy Day you can help us drive change in the United States by utilizing the “You Matter! Know What to Expect and Know Your Rights Ostomy and Continent Diversion Patient Bill of Rights” Share the newly revised patient bill of rights poster (11×17 for printing purposes) with your ostomy surgeon, GI doctor, Primary Care Physician and/or ostomy nurse. Ask them to ensure that these standards of care are utilized in their practice.
Download a frame to add to your social media profile pic or on your Facebook page hit “Edit” on your profile picture. Then tap “Add Frame” and search “ostomy awareness” to add it automatically.
Example
UOAA Ostomy Awareness Day Champion Allison Rosen will kick-off the day with a Facebook Live 11:30am EDT on the morning of October 2nd and on Instagram Live host a candid Q&A at 9/8pm CDT that evening. UOAA representatives will also take part in a host of ostomy educational events with partner organizations and others leading up to and immediately after World Ostomy Day. Check back here and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for updates.
WEBINARS/FB Live Events:
“This is My Life Now: A Patient’s Guide to Advocacy” Celebrate World Ostomy Day at ConvaTec’s Virtual Patient Summit on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 1 pm edt. Join ConvaTec for a live discussion with ostomates, nurses and other healthcare professionals at their two session, one-day virtual summit. The first session “This is My Life Now: A Patient’s Guide to Advocacy”
“Creating a Healthy Bond: Healthcare Support for Your Patients” October 1, Session 2, 3pm EST: Create a strong bond with your patients and healthcare providers. Get to know the different types of pre and post-operative support available. Scheduled panelists include Lorena Eltz, Patient Advocate; Lorraine Grover, Psychosexual Nurse Specialist; and Allison Rosen, UOAA’s World Ostomy Day Champion
Living with IBD and an Ostomy Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and UOAA are partnering to bring you a Facebook Live Chat on Saturday, October 2nd at 12:00pm (Noon) Eastern Time, 11:00am Central Time. Join us for a conversation with a panel of speakers to raise awareness about living with IBD and an ostomy. Our panel will feature Dr. Mukta Krane, with the University of Washington, John Nixon, a Crohn’s disease patient, and Linda Coulter, UOAA Medical Advisor and WOC nurse with University Hospitals’ Ahuja Medical Center. To Watch Live please go to: https://www.facebook.com/ccfafb
Worldwide Ostomy Panel On World Ostomy Day Oct. 2 Hollister Inc. joined up with European-based sister brand, Dansac, to bring you a virtual panel discussion with ostomates from around the world. They will share their experiences and how they engage with the ostomy community. Tune in for a great conversation!
“A Community Conversation: Ostomies and Cancer” Elephants and Tea, we want to have conversations on topics that are not talked about enough, ostomies are no exception. Our mission to help adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients, survivors and caregivers know they are not alone in their fight with cancer. Tuesday, October 5th at 7:30 PM Eastern Time, 6:30 PM Central Time.
Share our new animated series highlighting each section of the Ostomy And Continent Diversion Bill of Rights. Visit https://www.ostomy.org/bill-of-rights/ to view all the videos as they become available and to learn more. Videos were created in collaboration with with Better Health www.joinbetter.com. #OstomyRights #MyAccessMatters #WorldOstomyDay
Animated Series Part 2: Operative Phase: Ostomy Patient Bill of Rights
Run, Walk, Roll or Pedal in your own neighborhood or park, or if you feel more comfortable at home, hop on your treadmill, in support of ostomy awareness. Ask your family, friends or support group members to join you by creating your own VIRTUAL TEAM! It’s an easy step to create one after you’ve registered. #WorldOstomyDay #RunforResilience #OstomyRights
Celebrate World Ostomy Day with a commemorative t-shirt from ConvaTec supporting ostomates rights. Then on World Ostomy Day, October 2nd, snap a selfie in your shirt and share to social media using with #ostoME and #theRighttoBeMe. Proceeds benefit UOAA.
An important effort anyone can do is to get your Federal, State or Local elected officials to 
pass a proclamation! WOD Proclamation template
You can also take action here to request a proclamation with your state elected officials.
Use our SAMPLE-LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR-2021 template to write to your local newspaper or website or call your regional TV News and radio stations. This helps spread critical ostomy awareness and reach those in need of support.
Ostomy Awareness Day is held annually on the first Saturday of October. This day coincides with World Ostomy Day, a health observance where the world unites every three years to raise ostomy awareness. World Ostomy Day is sponsored by the International Ostomy Association. UOAA continues to sponsor and celebrate this day in the United States annually by spreading awareness and increasing national visibility of those living with ostomies. We will carry on breaking the silence and shining a positive light on what has saved so many lives.
United Ostomy Associations of America
P.O. Box 2293
Biddeford, ME 04005-2293
Call us toll-free at: 1-800-826-0826.
Our Information Line hours are Monday-Friday, 9am to 3pm EST. If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local medical professional.
Please understand that UOAA is a private, nonprofit, advocacy and informational organization. We are not a medical facility and we do not have medical or legal professionals on staff. Therefore, UOAA does not provide Medical, Mental Health, Insurance or Legal Advice. Visit UOAA Virtual Ostomy Clinic provided by The Wound Company for non-emergency, virtual ostomy support.
