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).
The Cost of Survival
A loaf of bread. A few groceries. A stoma pouch.
For too many South African ostomates, the struggle isn’t just medical — it’s economic. Without enough pouches, or without the right pouching system, people begin rationing in ways that are hard to imagine.
They start skipping meals, believing that eating less will mean fewer pouch changes. They limit fluids. They isolate themselves. And slowly, silently, they start to disappear from life.
This is what happens when patients are not given the medical appliances they need to live with dignity.
The cost isn’t just measured in rands. It’s measured in malnutrition, poor wound healing, shame, and lost livelihoods.
We must do better. Every ostomate deserves access to appropriate pouching systems — not as a luxury, but as a basic human right.
#OstomyAwareness #DignityForAll #StrongerTogether #SASS #InvisibleStruggles #AccessMatters #StomaCareIsHealthcare
The Cost of Survival
A loaf of bread. A few groceries. A stoma pouch.
For too many South African ostomates, the struggle isn’t just medical — it’s economic. Without enough pouches, or without the right pouching system, people begin rationing in ways that are hard to imagine.
They start skipping meals, believing that eating less will mean fewer pouch changes. They limit fluids. They isolate themselves. And slowly, silently, they start to disappear from life.
This is what happens when patients are not given the medical appliances they need to live with dignity.
The cost isn’t just measured in rands. It’s measured in malnutrition, poor wound healing, shame, and lost livelihoods.
We must do better. Every ostomate deserves access to appropriate pouching systems — not as a luxury, but as a basic human right.
#OstomyAwareness #DignityForAll #StrongerTogether #SASS #InvisibleStruggles #AccessMatters #StomaCareIsHealthcare
Move to be Seen
If your pouch gives you the security to move, there’s no reason to hold back.
Whether it’s a slow walk or a bold run, every step is a reminder:
Ostomates deserve full lives.
Movement is part of healing — and part of being seen.
If you’re ready to get more active and want guidance that’s tailored to your needs, reach out to us at info@sasstomates.org.za to set up a consultation with a biokineticist.
#OstomatesOnTheMove #StomaStrong #visibilitymatters
Move to be Seen
If your pouch gives you the security to move, there’s no reason to hold back.
Whether it’s a slow walk or a bold run, every step is a reminder:
Ostomates deserve full lives.
Movement is part of healing — and part of being seen.
If you’re ready to get more active and want guidance that’s tailored to your needs, reach out to us at info@sasstomates.org.za to set up a consultation with a biokineticist.
#OstomatesOnTheMove #StomaStrong #visibilitymatters
In Loving Memory of Glenda Kidwell Vercuiel
“Always bringing sunshine, even on the stormiest days.”
It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we share the passing of Glenda Kidwell Vercuiel—our beloved ostomate, our motivator, our sunshine in human form.
Despite the health challenges she faced, Glenda never let her spirit be dimmed. She radiated warmth, humour, and hope—always choosing to focus on the positive, always showing up for others even when she was quietly fighting her own battles. Her courage was quiet but fierce. Her love for life, undeniable.
Today, we celebrate her legacy not just in words, but in action—in the way we treat each other, in the way we find light in the dark, in the way we carry forward the lessons she so beautifully embodied.
To her children, Jordin and Farrah:
Your mom was an extraordinary woman. In every conversation, her love for you shone through. She spoke of you with pride, with tenderness, and with so much joy. Please know that her light lives on in both of you—in your hearts, in your laughter, in the way you move through the world. You were her greatest treasures, and she was, and always will be, your biggest champion.
We are privileged to share this short video message from Glenda—a glimpse into her resilient and radiant mindset. May it remind us all that even in the face of hardship, joy is still possible, and love never fades.
Rest gently, Glenda. You’ve left us with so much more than memories—you’ve left us with meaning.
In Loving Memory of Glenda Kidwell Vercuiel
“Always bringing sunshine, even on the stormiest days.”
It is with deep sadness and profound respect that we share the passing of Glenda Kidwell Vercuiel—our beloved ostomate, our motivator, our sunshine in human form.
Despite the health challenges she faced, Glenda never let her spirit be dimmed. She radiated warmth, humour, and hope—always choosing to focus on the positive, always showing up for others even when she was quietly fighting her own battles. Her courage was quiet but fierce. Her love for life, undeniable.
Today, we celebrate her legacy not just in words, but in action—in the way we treat each other, in the way we find light in the dark, in the way we carry forward the lessons she so beautifully embodied.
To her children, Jordin and Farrah:
Your mom was an extraordinary woman. In every conversation, her love for you shone through. She spoke of you with pride, with tenderness, and with so much joy. Please know that her light lives on in both of you—in your hearts, in your laughter, in the way you move through the world. You were her greatest treasures, and she was, and always will be, your biggest champion.
We are privileged to share this short video message from Glenda—a glimpse into her resilient and radiant mindset. May it remind us all that even in the face of hardship, joy is still possible, and love never fades.
Rest gently, Glenda. You’ve left us with so much more than memories—you’ve left us with meaning.
Survival Kit
No more silence ....
What Is a Stoma?
Why My Language Matters
Stoma.
Say it.
Normalize it.
Understand it.
A stoma is a surgically created opening to allow waste to leave the body when the bowel or bladder isn’t functioning. For thousands of South Africans, it’s a life-saving intervention. The stigma dissipates when we discuss it, with the right words and respect.
Download our Survival Guide here https://sasstomates.org.za/survival-guide/
#StomaAwareness #NoMoreShame #SASSupport #SayStomaProudly
Survival Kit
No more silence ....
What Is a Stoma?
Why My Language Matters
Stoma.
Say it.
Normalize it.
Understand it.
A stoma is a surgically created opening to allow waste to leave the body when the bowel or bladder isn’t functioning. For thousands of South Africans, it’s a life-saving intervention. The stigma dissipates when we discuss it, with the right words and respect.
Download our Survival Guide here https://sasstomates.org.za/survival-guide/
#StomaAwareness #NoMoreShame #SASSupport #SayStomaProudly
**⚠ Content Warning: Medical Imagery **
This video contains graphic medical content, including images of individuals without ostomy pouches and visible skin damage. Viewer discretion is advised.
We share this with deep respect to raise awareness about the urgent challenges faced by ostomates who do not have access to proper medical supplies. This is the reality too many live with — and it deserves to be seen, heard, and changed. **
Imagine reusing a medical pouch because the hospital ran out. We don`t have to imagine – we know the names and faces.
Ostomates in public hospitals are often forced to go months without essential medical supplies, especially pouches. Without them, we are vulnerable, forcibly debilitated, and stripped of our dignity.
This isn’t just poor service — it’s a violation of our constitutional right to health.
Because ostomates are not recognised as a vulnerable group, many provinces fail to budget for basic ostomy care.
We are demanding accountability. Our lives and dignity matter.
#DignityDenied #FixPublicHealthcare #OstomyCrisis #SASSAdvocacyImagine reusing a medical pouch because the hospital ran out. We don`t have to imagine – we know the names and faces.
Ostomates in public hospitals are often forced to go months without essential medical supplies, especially pouches. Without them, we are vulnerable, forcibly debilitated, and stripped of our dignity.
This isn’t just poor service — it’s a violation of our constitutional right to health.
Because ostomates are not recognised as a vulnerable group, many provinces fail to budget for basic ostomy care.
We are demanding accountability. Our lives and dignity matter.
#DignityDenied #FixPublicHealthcare #OstomyCrisis #SASSAdvocacy #DignityForAll #OstomyAwareness
**⚠ Content Warning: Medical Imagery **
This video contains graphic medical content, including images of individuals without ostomy pouches and visible skin damage. Viewer discretion is advised.
We share this with deep respect to raise awareness about the urgent challenges faced by ostomates who do not have access to proper medical supplies. This is the reality too many live with — and it deserves to be seen, heard, and changed. **
Imagine reusing a medical pouch because the hospital ran out. We don`t have to imagine – we know the names and faces.
Ostomates in public hospitals are often forced to go months without essential medical supplies, especially pouches. Without them, we are vulnerable, forcibly debilitated, and stripped of our dignity.
This isn’t just poor service — it’s a violation of our constitutional right to health.
Because ostomates are not recognised as a vulnerable group, many provinces fail to budget for basic ostomy care.
We are demanding accountability. Our lives and dignity matter.
#DignityDenied #FixPublicHealthcare #OstomyCrisis #SASSAdvocacyImagine reusing a medical pouch because the hospital ran out. We don`t have to imagine – we know the names and faces.
Ostomates in public hospitals are often forced to go months without essential medical supplies, especially pouches. Without them, we are vulnerable, forcibly debilitated, and stripped of our dignity.
This isn’t just poor service — it’s a violation of our constitutional right to health.
Because ostomates are not recognised as a vulnerable group, many provinces fail to budget for basic ostomy care.
We are demanding accountability. Our lives and dignity matter.
#DignityDenied #FixPublicHealthcare #OstomyCrisis #SASSAdvocacy #DignityForAll #OstomyAwareness
💛 Youth Day: Honouring the Strength of Our Young Warriors 💛
Today, we celebrate the bold, brave, and brilliant young people who are shaping the future, especially those walking the ostomy journey with courage and pride.
To our young ostomates:
You are not defined by your scars, but by the strength it took to keep going. You are rewriting the story of resilience, confidence, and what it means to live boldly — bag and all.
Your voice matters.
Your journey inspires.
Your presence in the world is powerful.
Let this Youth Day be a reminder that you are never alone, and your story is worth celebrating — every single day.
Keep rising, keep dreaming, and keep owning your journey. 🌟
#YouthDay #OstomyYouth #PowerInEveryStep #ProudToBeMe #SassTomates #YoungAndBrave #CelebrateCourage
💛 Youth Day: Honouring the Strength of Our Young Warriors 💛
Today, we celebrate the bold, brave, and brilliant young people who are shaping the future, especially those walking the ostomy journey with courage and pride.
To our young ostomates:
You are not defined by your scars, but by the strength it took to keep going. You are rewriting the story of resilience, confidence, and what it means to live boldly — bag and all.
Your voice matters.
Your journey inspires.
Your presence in the world is powerful.
Let this Youth Day be a reminder that you are never alone, and your story is worth celebrating — every single day.
Keep rising, keep dreaming, and keep owning your journey. 🌟
#YouthDay #OstomyYouth #PowerInEveryStep #ProudToBeMe #SassTomates #YoungAndBrave #CelebrateCourage
🌟 Happy Father’s Day to All Our Ostomy Warriors! 🌟
Today we honour the strength, resilience, and unwavering love of dads in our ostomy community.
You are proof that bravery comes in many forms — not just in the quiet battles you fight daily, but in the way you show up, lead by example, and love unconditionally.
Whether you`re chasing after little ones, offering guidance with a steady hand, or simply showing up with a smile — your presence matters. Your journey inspires strength in others, and your courage reminds us all that no challenge is too great when faced with heart and hope.
💙 You are more than your ostomy.
💙 You are a provider, a protector, and a powerful example.
💙 You are Dad — and that’s everything.
From all of us, thank you for being you.
#FathersDay #OstomyAwareness #DadStrong #UnstoppableDads #SassTomates #CelebrateCourage
🌟 Happy Father’s Day to All Our Ostomy Warriors! 🌟
Today we honour the strength, resilience, and unwavering love of dads in our ostomy community.
You are proof that bravery comes in many forms — not just in the quiet battles you fight daily, but in the way you show up, lead by example, and love unconditionally.
Whether you`re chasing after little ones, offering guidance with a steady hand, or simply showing up with a smile — your presence matters. Your journey inspires strength in others, and your courage reminds us all that no challenge is too great when faced with heart and hope.
💙 You are more than your ostomy.
💙 You are a provider, a protector, and a powerful example.
💙 You are Dad — and that’s everything.
From all of us, thank you for being you.
#FathersDay #OstomyAwareness #DadStrong #UnstoppableDads #SassTomates #CelebrateCourage
🌙 Eid Mubarak from SASS 🌙
As the crescent moon shines bright and the spirit of Eid fills our hearts, we at SASS send our warmest wishes to our ostomy community across South Africa and beyond.
May this special time bring peace, healing, and renewed strength to you and your loved ones. Whether you are celebrating quietly or with family and friends, know that you are never alone — you are part of a community that stands strong, supports one another, and believes in living life with dignity and purpose.
Eid Mubarak to all our brave ostomates, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. 💚
#EidMubarak #SASSCommunity #StrongerTogether
🌙 Eid Mubarak from SASS 🌙
As the crescent moon shines bright and the spirit of Eid fills our hearts, we at SASS send our warmest wishes to our ostomy community across South Africa and beyond.
May this special time bring peace, healing, and renewed strength to you and your loved ones. Whether you are celebrating quietly or with family and friends, know that you are never alone — you are part of a community that stands strong, supports one another, and believes in living life with dignity and purpose.
Eid Mubarak to all our brave ostomates, caregivers, and healthcare heroes. 💚
#EidMubarak #SASSCommunity #StrongerTogether
SASS Blog
What has been happening at SASS
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