World Ostomy Day commemorated with ‘Love Ostomates’

Saturday, 9 November 2013 07:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ostomy Association of Sri Lanka together with Enterostoma Therapy Nurses Association of Sri Lanka organised a program to commemorate World Ostomy Day under the theme ‘Love Ostomates’ which was successfully held on 12 October at Cricket Club Galle.

This was organised with the objective of creating awareness among the public and getting them to love and respect ostomates. An ostomy is a surgically created opening, connecting an internal organ to the surface of the body. Different kinds of ostomies are named for the organ involved. The most common types of ostomies in Sri Lanka are ‘colostomy’ which connects the colon or large intestine to the abdominal wall. An ostomy may be temporary or permanent. The Ostomy Association of Sri Lanka was formed to enlighten the patients on what a stoma is, how to manage a stoma, their diet, life style and the precautions that should be taken to prevent complications. These patients are very depressed with their condition and need counselling as well. If Ostomates are educated in the right manner complications could be avoided and they could lead a normal life. In view of offering a quality service to the Ostomates under the theme “No Ostomate Should Suffer in Sri Lanka,” a nurses association was formed by the name of Enterostomal Therapy Association of Sri Lanka. There are six fully qualified foreign trained nurses in Sri Lanka. These nurses in turn have trained approximately 60 nurses who are attached to government hospitals island wide.