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).
What is a Stoma?
A stoma is a small opening made during surgery that allows waste to leave the body when the usual path is no longer possible.
People may need a stoma for different reasons, such as colorectal cancer, Crohn’s disease, bladder cancer, or injury to the bowel or bladder.
This simple video breaks it down in an easy-to-understand way.
Having a stoma is not the end of life; it’s often the beginning of a new chance at living.
#StomaCare #OstomyAwareness #StrongerTogether #DignityForAll
This Diwali, let’s celebrate the light that shines within, the strength, resilience, and positivity of every ostomate.
From all of us at SASSTOMATES, wishing you a Diwali filled with peace, joy, and togetherness. 🪔
#Diwali2025 #SASSTOMATES #ShineBright #OstomyCommunity
⚠️ When Ingenuity Replaces Healthcare ⚠️
Meet Asanda from the Eastern Cape.
With no access to proper ostomy pouches, Asanda created an “ingenious solution” — a plastic bag and electrical tape.
Yes, it works desperately. But let’s be clear: this is not innovation to be celebrated.
It’s a human rights failure.
Plastic bags are made for bread, for supermarket shopping — not for containing human waste.
What does this mean for Asanda and thousands like her?
Constant risk of infection
Painful skin damage
Smell and stigma that isolate her from society
No one should have to live this way.
Access to ostomy supplies is basic, essential, and non-negotiable.
This is not about charity, it’s about justice and dignity.
#OstomyCare #DignityForAll #HumanRights #HealthcareForAll #StrongerTogether
🏁 Flying the SASS Flag at the Cape Town Marathon!
Today, Shahieda Dramat proudly represented SASS at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon Peace Run, completing a brilliant 10 km and raising awareness for ostomates across South Africa. 🌟
Fresh off the plane from Johannesburg, Graham Daniels (Race No. 23171) collected his kit for tomorrow’s big challenge — his 4th appearance at the 42.2 km Cape Town Marathon! We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way. 🏃♂️💪
📱 Want to follow Graham live?
Download the Cape Town Marathon App from your App Store or Play Store and track his journey in real time. His start time is 7:00 AM tomorrow.
To Shahieda and Graham — thank you for flying the SASS flag high and reminding us all what strength, courage, and community look like. 🇿🇦💙
#SASS #StrongerTogether #CapeTownMarathon #Ostomates #Inspiration #RunForACause #TeamSASS
🚨 No One Should Live Like This 🚨
In parts of South Africa and across Africa, many ostomates are forced to use plastic bags to fashion makeshift pouches.
This is not only unsanitary, leading to infections, rashes, and other serious health complications, but it also strips people of their dignity. 💔
Imagine living with constant fear of leakage, the smell making others avoid you, and being cut off from work, school, or even family gatherings… all because you don’t have access to a basic medical pouch.
This is preventable. Ostomy supplies are not a luxury. They are a lifeline and a basic human right.
It’s time to end this silent crisis.
#OstomyCare #HumanRights #EndTheStigma #DignityForAll #strongertogether
When the public sector, private industry, and civil society work together — patients win 💙
The Western Cape Government hosted a Provincial Stoma & Ostomy Care Information Day at Bellville Health Park — bringing together nurses, admin teams, supply chain staff, industry partners, and advocates.
Faizel Jacobs from SASS shared the patient’s lived experience, while Sr. Nicci Peterson from Groote Schuur Hospital provided vital education on stoma care and correct product use.
It was an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and compassion — a reminder that every partnership plays a role in improving the quality of life for Ostomates across South Africa.
#SASS #OstomyAwareness #HealthcareForAll #PublicPrivatePartnership #CivilSociety #StrongerTogether #WesternCapeHealth #NurseEducation #PatientAdvocacy
🌍 SASS at the Western Cape Provincial Stoma Information Day
SASS was proud to participate in the Provincial Stoma and Ostomy Care Information Day hosted by the Western Cape Government at Bellville Health Park.
This important engagement brought together nurses, supply chain staff, administrators, and industry partners — all committed to improving the quality of life for Ostomates.
Representing the patient voice, Faizel Jacobs shared the lived experience of living with a stoma, reminding everyone that access to the right pouching system is not a privilege — it’s a necessity.
A heartfelt thank you to the Western Cape Government for creating a platform that encourages awareness, learning, and collaboration in stoma care.
🤝 #SASS #OstomyAwareness #StrongerTogether #StomaCare #PatientAdvocacy
The SASS Team has an early start at Karl Bremmer Hospital sharing the lived experience and advocating for improved access to product
#Ostomates #SASSTOMATES #Stoma #StomaAwareness #InvisibleDisabilitiesVisibleSupport
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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