Advice and Tools
For every step of your Ostomy Journey
SASS aims to advocate and align the standard of Stoma care and services across South Africa which will be applicable to both the private and public sectors.
Ostomy Care
Tips and Tricks
The South African Society of Stomates (SASS) is a Non-profit organization formed by Ostomates across Southern Africa to facilitate a “holistic” approach to ostomy patient care by bridging the gap between the private and public sectors whilst advocating for the rights of fellow ostomates throughout the country.
SASS VALUE STATEMENT
SASS is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of ostomates across South Africa. We strive to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare sectors, ensuring that all ostomates receive the highest standard of care.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive support, education, and resources to empower ostomates and their families, helping them navigate their new normal with confidence and dignity. By collaborating closely with clinicians and healthcare professionals, we ensure that our community receives expert care and guidance.
Aligning with global standards set by The International Ostomy Association (IOA), we aim to foster a community where every ostomate feels supported, informed, and valued.
Featured Topics
For Living with a Colostomy, Ileostomy or Urostomy
Help us achieve
What we set out to achieve with YOUR help
GET EDUCATED
Medically reviewed surgery-specific information. Making sure you have access to the best possible care. Ostomy pouch management tips, diet & nutrition, skincare, sexuality, travel tips and more!
FEEL SUPPORTED
Support to you & your family whilst you transition into your new normal. You will have access to a local peer support group, where you can get answers to questions, or connect with our Facebook community.
BE AN ADVOCATE
We aim to advocate the standard of Stoma care across private and public sectors, whilst aligning with the global standards set out by The International Ostomy Association (IOA).
She wears courage every day. Behind every stoma is a woman rewriting her story.
This Women’s Month, we honour the resilience of women living with a stoma.
Whether navigating motherhood, relationships, or careers — these women prove that life after surgery is not just possible, but powerful.
💬 Share your story or tag a warrior woman you know.
Let’s celebrate HER strength. HER body. HER journey.
#WomensMonth #OstomyWarrior #SASSupport #StomaStrong #HerStoryHerPower
You are not your ostomy. You are worthy. You are loved. You are enough.
Your stoma might have saved your life, but it doesn`t define it. The people who matter will see you — not just the bag. Keep showing up as your full self. The right people will celebrate you for it.
Let this be your reminder: you add value — just as you are.
#OstomyAwareness #StrongerTogether #StomaLife #OstomateVoices #BodyPositivity #IleostomyLife #ColostomySupport #SASScommunity #LiveFully #SelfWorth
Understanding Your Options – Stoma Pouching Basics
One size doesn’t fit all.
But the right pouching system?
That makes all the difference.
Choosing a stoma pouching system starts with understanding the two main types:
🔹 One-piece systems
🔹 Two-piece systems
Both help manage output and protect your skin, but they work a little differently.
We’ll explore the pros and cons over the coming weeks to help you feel more confident in your pouching journey.
Follow us for more
#StomaCare #KnowYourOptions #OstomyAwareness #SASSupport #PouchingConfidence
Image credit - UOAA Ostomy.org
Empowering Peri-Operative Practice | SASS x APPSA
Today; 2nd August 2025, SASS was invited to participate in a workshop hosted by APPSA (The Association for Peri-Operative Practitioners in South Africa), a professional body dedicated to advancing peri-operative nursing through education, collaboration and best practice sharing across the country.
Representing SASS, Heather and our dedicated stoma care nurse Sr Jolanda, led an insightful and practical workshop on the Post-operative effects of scrubbing for a “non-sited” ostomy patient.
With over 300 theatre nurses in attendance at the Medhold venue in Isando, Sr Jolanda walked participants through:
* Emergency ostomy siting techniques for cases where pre-operative stoma siting isn’t possible
* The long-term impact of poorly sited stomas on patient dignity, skin health and quality of life
* The critical reminder that a stoma site is for life, and every effort must be made—even in emergencies—to ensure proper placement
Thank you to APPSA Gauteng for the opportunity to collaborate and build theatre nurse capacity. Stronger peri-operative awareness means better outcomes for ostomates nationwide.
“When stoma siting can’t be planned… education is everything.”
#SASSTomates #APPSA2025 #StomaAwareness #TheatreNurses #PeriOperativeCare #SurgicalEducation #StomaSitingMatters #PatientDignity #EmergencySurgery #StrongerTogether #OstomyCareSA
August is Women’s Month in South Africa — and we honour every woman rising with strength, dignity, and purpose. 🌸
From diagnosis to surgery to daily life with a stoma — your courage rewrites the narrative.
You are not invisible. You are not alone. You are not defined by your scars.
You are power in motion. 💪🏽✨
This month, we celebrate:
🌼 Women who advocate for better healthcare
🌼 Women living with a stoma who show up for life — every day
🌼 Women supporting other women through tough journeys
To every ostomate, nurse, carer, daughter, and fighter — thank you for being the heartbeat of healing.
#WomensMonth #WomenWithStomas #VisibleNotSilent #SASScommunity #EmpoweredWomen #HealingWithDignity #StrongHer #OstomateVoices #StrongerTogether #SouthAfricanWomen
SAVE THE DATE!
The SASS Conference 2026 is coming!
Date: Friday, 27 - 28 March 2026
Location: Cape Town
Theme: Building Bridges for Invisible Needs
Join us for a powerful day of dialogue, education, and action as we spotlight equitable ostomy care, colorectal cancer advocacy, and the voices of patients, professionals, and partners who are changing the landscape.
👥 Registration details coming soon!
#SASSConference2026 #StrongerTogether #OstomyAwareness #ColorectalCancer #EquityInHealthcare #BuildingBridges #SASS
Check you Skin
Your stoma deserves skincare too — and it only takes 5 minutes.
We’re loving the Coloplast ARC Method:
💧Apply. 🔄 Remove. 👀 Check.
It’s a simple, effective way to protect your peristomal skin and stop leaks before they start.
✔️ Make it part of your routine:
✔️ Apply your system correctly
✔️ Remove gently and safely
✔️ Check your skin every time
Look out for redness, irritation, or changes in output, and if anything feels off, reach out. SASS has videos, guides, and support to keep you thriving.
✨ Download our Survival Guide now:
👉 https://sasstomates.org.za/survival-guide/
You’ve got this — and we’ve got you.
#ColoplastARC #StomaSkinCare #CheckYourself #SASSLink #SASSYandStrong #PeristomalGlowUp
🌍 Expanding Knowledge. Building Community. Changing Lives.
This week, SASS is proud to participate in a 3-day Project ECHO training — a groundbreaking learning model that connects healthcare professionals, community workers, and advocates through collaborative, case-based learning.
Over the next three days, we’ll be learning alongside changemakers from across the African continent and India — creating a vibrant, international community united by a shared goal: to improve access, understanding, and support in healthcare.
For SASS, this is more than a workshop. It’s a step toward:
💡 Strengthening education in stoma care
🤝 Equipping frontline workers and peer supporters
🗣️ Raising the profile of ostomates and their unique needs
🧠 Supporting the psycho-social wellbeing of our community
We’re excited about the potential this model holds for our advocacy and education work in South Africa — and beyond.
#SASS #StrongerTogether #ProjectECHO #OstomyCare #HealthEquity #StomaSupport #OstomatesMatter #GlobalHealth #CommunityHealth #ECHOForChange
SASS Blog
What has been happening at SASS
Restoring Dignity Through Partnership & Education
SASS and Helen Joseph Hospital Lead the Way in Stoma Care In April and May 2025, the South African Society of Stomates (SASS) partnered with Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH) in Johannesburg for a multi-day capacity-building initiative aimed at improving stoma care services in the public health system. What started as a workshop quickly became a […]
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