Stoma

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.

An Ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create an opening in the body called a stoma, used to discharge waste. 

Janet Yaki, an Ostomate herself, registered the PNG Stoma Association in 2011 to be a voice and vehicle of Ostomates in the country.

Their theme this year is “Many stories, One Voice!”

But to this day, Yaki is the only Ostomate pushing the association forward.

“It is still very hard for Ostomates to find the courage to come out because of the stigma that surrounds them,” she said.

The fundraiser saw business houses and individuals stepping in with cash and kind to push the foundation towards achieving its goal.

Founder Janet Yaki, an ostomate herself, thanked all those who have been supporting the society over the years.

She was emotional when reflecting on the hardships of ostomates in the country.

An Ostomate is a person who has undergone a surgical procedure to create an opening in the body that will be used to discharge waste. 

Ostomates are always considering this when out in public.

They are in this situation due to bowel cancer or accidents forcing them to remove waste through an artificial opening called stoma.

But lack of supplies (colostomy bags) and less knowledge sees Ostomates in PNG using other things such as diapers and shopping bags or refusing to move around in public places to avoid embarrassment.

Greg Neville, Managing Director of Matrix Constructions PNG has been supporting the PNG Stoma Foundation to give them a better life.

The dinner which was initially scheduled for October 5 but deferred is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser hosted in the past five years.

The Stoma association, formed by ostomate Janet Yaki is dedicated to assisting other ostomates in the country live normal lives .

It receives assistance from various charities and groups.

The fundraising dinner is aimed at raising funds to assist establish a specialist centre in the country, one that will cost more than K1.5 million.

And as its responsibility, the foundation continues to push for awareness on Stoma and all other types of cancer that leads to it. 

Janet Yaki, founder and interim president of the PNG Stoma Association faces similar situation in her path to fighting stoma in the country.