November Members Meeting
Our November member meeting made us reflect on the challenges faced by ostomy patients in Africa. Ostomy care is a global issue we can no longer ignore. Around the world, millions live with an ostomy, yet their stories, struggles, and successes are often unseen. While ostomy surgery can be life-saving, the journey afterward is highly personal, complicated, and lifelong.
Many patients leave the hospital without adequate education on how to care for their stoma. Access to dependable and affordable supplies remains a significant challenge. There are few trained stoma nurses, and those available are overwhelmed. Emotional, psychosocial, and peer support are still largely missing. Policy frameworks often fail to consider ostomy needs at all.
As discussions about global health equity grow louder, one message is clear: Ostomy care must become part of the worldwide healthcare agenda.
This is not just a gap in care, but a gap in dignity.
Our next meeting will be on December 17th at 8 AM UTC. We hope you’ll join us!
To subscribe to the calendar of future meetings or to watch the recordings of past meetings, visit the GCCA Member Portal. The password is available in our latest member newsletter, or you can email jenn@globalcca.org for access.
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