SASS is proud to officially announce and celebrate the first recipients of the Jolanda Janse van Noordwyk (JJ van Noordwyk) Stoma Nurse Bursary Fund — a milestone moment in our commitment to securing the future of specialised stoma care in South Africa.
Launched in January 2026, the bursary was established in response to a growing national crisis. South Africa currently has fewer than 100 qualified Stoma Nurses serving a population of over 64 million people — and an estimated 80% of these nurses are within 10 years of retirement. Without urgent succession planning, thousands of ostomates risk losing access to specialised, dignified care.
This bursary is not simply financial assistance. It is a strategic investment in the sustainability of specialised nursing in South Africa.
A Partnership for Excellence
SASS has formed a formal partnership with the University of the Free State to support nurses enrolling in the Stoma Care Nursing Programme — currently the only Higher Education Institution in South Africa offering this specialised qualification.
The programme itself is delivered as a collaborative academic–clinical initiative between the University of the Free State and Groote Schuur Hospital, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health.
This model bridges rigorous academic training with hands-on public-sector clinical excellence, strengthening national capacity and ensuring that specialised stoma care remains embedded within South Africa’s healthcare system.
Through this collaboration, eligible nurses who apply to the University may also apply for the JJ van Noordwyk Bursary Fund to support their studies — reinforcing both academic excellence and patient-centred care.
The programme equips nurses with advanced skills in:
Ostomy assessment and management
Prevention and management of complications
Pouching system selection and prescribing knowledge
Peristomal skin care
Pre- and post-operative patient education
Holistic rehabilitation and quality of life improvement
Together, we are strengthening both academic excellence and patient-centred care.
Fore MOre Information on the course, please vists the Univeristy Of The Free States Website
Honouring a Legacy of Teaching and Service
The bursary fund is named in honour of Jolanda Janse van Noordwyk, affectionately known as JJ — a nurse, mentor, teacher, and passionate advocate for ostomates.
Her career has been defined not only by clinical excellence, but by her unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of Stoma Nurses. Her influence has shaped countless professionals and improved the lives of thousands of patients across both the private and public healthcare sectors.
As JJ so beautifully reminds us:
“Stoma care is not just about managing a pouch — it is about restoring dignity, confidence, and hope.
Investing in a nurse is investing in every patient they will ever care for.”
Meet the Inaugural Recipients
Today, we had the honour of meeting the first recipients of the JJ van Noordwyk Stoma Nurse Bursary Fund:
Elizabeth Nelson
Semira Luna Martin Standhardt
Zikhona Mazinyo
These nurses represent more than individual achievement — they represent hope, continuity, and leadership for the future of specialised stoma care in South Africa.
We congratulate you on this important step and wish you strength, purpose, and confidence as you grow into the leaders our community needs. Your impact will extend far beyond the classroom — into clinics, hospitals, homes, and the lives of every patient you will serve.
Why This Moment Matters
Every qualified Stoma Nurse:
Serves hundreds of patients annually
Reduces hospital readmissions through education and early intervention
Prevents and manages complications
Improves patient independence and quality of life
Reduces long-term healthcare costs
Without proactive investment in training, South Africa faces a widening gap in specialised services — particularly in public healthcare settings.
The JJ van Noordwyk Bursary Fund exists to ensure that this pipeline of skilled Stoma Nurses continues — sustainably, strategically, and with purpose.
A National Commitment
This is more than a bursary announcement.
It is a national advocacy milestone.
If we do not train Stoma Nurses today, we will fail patients tomorrow.
SASS remains committed to building capacity, strengthening systems, and ensuring that every ostomate in South Africa has access to specialised, dignified care.
The future of stoma care depends on who we train today — and today, that future looks stronger.