Janet Yaki still dreams of establishing a stoma care centre.
A specialised centre will be the central location to provide to the needs of ostomates. And it will be that one place where ostomates will feel comfortable.
An ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create an artificial opening in the body called a stoma, used to discharge waste.
They need colostomy bags, which are placed over their stoma to collect waste products that normally pass through a person's rectum and anus in the bathroom.
But with lack of supplies (colostomy bags) and knowledge, ostomates in PNG use diapers and shopping bags instead.
Or they refuse to move around in public places to avoid embarrassment due to stigma.
Yaki, an ostomate herself, started the PNG Stoma Association in 2011 to be a voice and vehicle for ostomates in the country.
The ultimate goal was to see a stoma care centre established.
But the foundation is still operating on charity donations, including a storage container being used as a storage and office space.
Yaki says currently it’s double work where she has to move between Port Moresby General Hospital and the storage facility located at Seven-Mile to transport supplies to ostomates.
She says the foundation desperately needs a stoma care centre.
In this way, when ostomates run out of supplies, they know where to go, instead of reverting back to using plastic bags.
Currently, the piece of land and building plan total stands at about K2.5 million.
(Janet Yaki – Loop file pic)