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).
🎤 SASS Elevates the Patient Voice in Gauteng 🌟
Across the week, @heather.white.50159 carried the stories and concerns of the stoma patient community into meaningful dialogue at workshops in Roodepoort (19 August), Benoni (20 August), and Pretoria (21 August). Her thoughtful contributions reminded healthcare professionals, procurement leaders, and fellow advocates that dignity, empathy, and genuine access must always shape quality stoma care.
Too often, patient voices are overshadowed—or dismissed as “too emotional”—as conversations are steered toward predefined agendas rather than lived realities. Making decisions for patients, without listening to patients, is simply not acceptable.
Why the Patient Voice Matters:
This week, the Gauteng High Court delivered a powerful affirmation of that truth. In an urgent ruling, the Court ordered the Gauteng Department of Health to immediately comply with directives on radiation oncology services, despite its pending appeal. The judgment recognised that cancer patients “do not have the luxury of time” — with delays risking irreversible harm, metastasis, and death. This ruling, welcomed by Section27 and the Cancer Alliance, is a landmark moment that protects the rights to life, dignity, and meaningful access to healthcare. It is a reminder that when patients speak out, change is not just possible — it is necessary.
We are deeply thankful to the organizations who value and elevate patient voices rather than muting them. This week, we especially acknowledge @coloplastza & OMS Medical, who partnered with SASS to create platforms where patients can be heard and solutions can be shaped around real needs.
Together, we’re not just discussing change — we’re driving it. 💙
#StomaCare #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareEquity #SASSImpact #OstomyAwareness #PatientVoice #GautengWorkshops
Two-Piece Systems – Flexibility Meets Function
Want to change your pouch without removing the adhesive? A two-piece system gives you that freedom.
In a two-piece pouching system, the adhesive barrier stays on your skin while the pouch can be changed separately.
✅ Great for sensitive skin
✅ Easier pouch changes
⚠ Slightly bulkier and may take some getting used to
Ideal for: Those who prefer to change pouches more often without irritating their skin.
Follow us for more
#TwoPieceSystem #StomaLiving #SkinCareMatters #OstomyOptions #strongertogether
Image credit - UOAA Ostomy.org
Many women with a stoma face unique challenges around body image, intimacy, and self-worth.
But here’s the truth:
🌸 You are not alone.
🌸 You are still whole.
🌸 And you have the right to feel confident in your skin.
This Women’s Month, we’re creating space for open, honest conversations about living beautifully and boldly — with a stoma.
#StillMe #WomensMonth2025 #BodyConfidence #OstomyAwareness #EmpoweredWomen
“When do I tell them about my ostomy?”
It’s one of the biggest questions for anyone navigating dating after surgery.
But here’s the truth:
👉 You decide when to share
👉 You decide how much to say
👉 And the right person? They’ll be curious, not cruel.
Your stoma doesn`t define your desirability — your heart, your humor, your humanity do.
#OstomyDating #StomaConfidence #OstomyAwareness #StrongerTogether #OstomateVoices #SASScommunity #DatingWithADifference #BodyPositivity #SelfWorth #YouChoose
Talking about your ostomy in a new relationship can feel scary — but you are in control. You decide when and how to share, and the right person will be open, curious, and kind.
💪 Ostomates — CAN LIFT! 💪
Through our Ostomates on the Move program, we’re building strength, confidence, and the skills to move through life — functionally fit, every day.
From squats to supermans, each move teaches us to breathe, brace, and live fully — with stability, power, and heart health. 🏋️♀️💙
Because life after stoma surgery is about thriving, not just surviving.
#OstomatesCanLift #OstomatesOnTheMove #SASS #StrongerTogether #FunctionalFitness #LifeWithAStoma #InvisibleDisabilitiesVisibleSupport #StomaStrong #MoveWithConfidence
One-Piece Systems – Simple and Secure
Looking for something low-maintenance? A one-piece might be your perfect match.
A one-piece pouching system has the adhesive barrier and the pouch as one unit.
✅ Easy to apply
✅ More flexible and discreet under clothes
⚠ Entire pouch must be removed and replaced during changes
Best for: People with good skin tolerance and those who prefer simplicity.
Chat to your stoma nurse about whether a one-piece system suits your lifestyle.
Follow us for more
#OnePieceSystem #StomaSupport #LivingWithAStoma #SASSouthAfrica #OstomyConfidence
credit to Image - UOAA Ostomy.org
⚠ Warning: Graphic Content – Viewer Discretion Advised
On 2 August 2025, this patient underwent stoma surgery after two weeks of hospitalization. By 6 August 2025, she was discharged from hospital.
She left with:
No understanding of why she has a stoma, what type of stoma she had, or how to care for it, and contacted SASS in complete devastation.
Given only 2 pouches to take home — the wrong type for her very complicated stoma.
Her stoma is not only complicated with mucocutaneous dehiscing and cutaneous slough — it’s totally retracted, meaning without the correct pouching system and accessories, leakage is inevitable. Leakage leads to severe skin damage, infection risk, and crushing psychological trauma.
Incorrect dietary advice — she was told to follow an ileostomy diet… but after Sr Jolanda examined her, it became clear she has a Transverse Colostomy. This was later confirmed in her few hospital notes.
#
This is not just about one patient.
This is about a systemic failure.
Every ostomate deserves:
Correct, adequate products from day one.
Accurate education and dietary guidance.
Nurses trained in stoma care to ensure dignity and safety.
When these basic needs are ignored, we set patients up for pain, isolation, and avoidable suffering. We strip away their dignity and deny them the chance to thrive.
This is one of many examples where the National Department of Health is failing South Africans. The shortage of trained stoma nurses and the lack of accessible, appropriate products is a healthcare crisis.
At SASS, we are actively working to change this. We build nursing capacity through clinical workshops and hands-on training, and leverage technology like the SASSLink App to connect patients and nurses with essential information and resources.
Without urgent investment in capacity building and product accessibility, these stories will continue.
SASS continues to advocate for change — because living with a stoma should never mean living without dignity.
#StomaCare #HealthcareFail #StrongerTogether #OstomyAwareness #PatientRights #Colostomy #Ileostomy #SouthAfricaHealthCrisis #StomaNurseTraining #dignityhealth
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
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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