World Ostomy Day is sponsored by the International Ostomy Association (IOA)  and is celebrated every three years. This year World Ostomy Day will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 and UOAA is excited to join our national efforts with the rest of the world on this special day.  This year’s theme will be “Speaking Out Changes Lives.” 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.

Our biggest awareness event this year will be the Worldwide Virtual Run for Resilience Ostomy 5k and also nine Ostomy 5k events all around the United States. Registration and team creation is now open at www.ostomy5k.org. The Virtual Ostomy 5k simply means a run/walk you can do in your own favorite place to run/walk or roll. Help us raise ostomy awareness in communities across the country! We’ll even mail you an athletic t-shirt and race number.

An important effort anyone can do it to get your Federal, State or Local elected officials to pass a proclamation!

Be sure to check back frequently for the latest information and guidance on how to make an impact on this special day!

We want to hear from you! Email advocacy@ostomy.org and tell us your plans to raise ostomy awareness or share your proclamation success story with us.

 Questions? Call us at 1-800-826-0826. #WorldOstomyDay2018 #OstomyDayUSA

The last World Ostomy Day was held in 2015. 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.

In the United States National Ostomy Awareness Day began in 2010. It is held annually on the first Saturday of October. UOAA continues to celebrate this day by spreading awareness and increasing national visibility of those living with ostomies. While focusing on different inspiring themes, each year through our collective voice we will reach out to the general public, carry on breaking the silence and shining a positive light on what has saved so many lives.
Last year’s National Ostomy Awareness Day was held on Saturday, October 7, 2017. The theme was “Navigate the Journey Together.” We raised awareness for people facing surgery or living with an ostomy or continent diversion that they are not alone on their journeys and also provided an opportunity to recognize all those who have helped them along the way.

Across the country people generated a buzz about ostomy awareness by obtaining proclamations in their home towns, writing letters to the editors of their local newspapers, and sharing their story and our campaign logo on social media.

Other ways people celebrated included participating in UOAA’s Run for Resilience, posting our “Navigate the Journey Together” with #OstomyDay2017 and so much more.