Photo Credits: Ostomyeurope.org Ria Smeijers (left side)
Dear EOA members, dear friends.
First of all: greetings to all of you from a sunny Netherlands. I hope you’re well. I would like to advise you of the latest developments in EOA.
1. EOA Congress2017
It is a pleasure to announce the next EOA Congress will take place on 17th May 2017 (arrival day) till 21st May 2017 (departure day). The Dutch Ostomy Association has decided that the Congress will be in The Hague. The Hague is the city where the Dutch Parliament and the Peace Palace is housed. The Hague is easily reachable by train from Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol. Further information will be published on this website when available. The EOA-EC expects many of you will attend this Congress to be inspired for your work for ostomates in your country.
2. Belgium
The regional groups in Flanders decided together to establish a national association. This association is named StomaVlaanderen.
The website is www.stomavlaanderen.be, and contact information can be found on the EOA website. We wish the President and the board of the new association good luck and lots of success.
3. Russia
We received good news from the President of ASTOM Moscow, Viatcheslav Sukhanov, that ASTOM Moscow has been promoted by the Government to be the National Ostomy and Incontinent Patients ASTOM Association of Russia. Congratulations to Slava and his Board.
4. United Kingdom–IA
IA (the Ileostomy & Internal Pouch Support Group), invited me for the celebration of their 60th anniversary on 16th April. It was a well organised meeting and it was nice to see so many old and new friends. On behalf of all the EOA members I congratulate the board of IA on this special anniversary. A more extensive report can be found on this website if you click on “What’s Happening”
5. New SecretaryIA
Anne Demick, National Secretary of IA, decided to retire. The new Secretary is Jackie King and we wish Jackie and her staff good luck.
6. LionsforStomaCare
Dr, Carlo Pezcoller from Italy and Dr. Harikesh Buch from India, have informed us about the new website of their organisation. If you are interested in the projects concerning training for surgeons and stoma nurses, please have a look at http://www.lionsforstomacare.it.
7. Congress WCET SouthAfrica
In March 2016 ET’s from all over the world visited Cape Town for their World Congress. The Chair of IOA (International Ostomy Association), Mr. Barry Maughan, represented EOA on this occasion. Marie Steen from ILKO Sweden and Lizzie Moyo the President of the Ostomy Association in Zimbabwe – Zimtrust – gave a presentation about the collaboration between these two countries. A report about this can be found on the EOA website (click on “What’s Happening”), together with a PowerPoint presentation by Lizzie Moyo and a QuickTime movie prepared by our webmaster.
8. Greece
Good news from Greece: Mr. Andreas Fridakis from Athens opened the following Facebook account which will become the first channel for exchange of experiences, informal help desk and base for the establishment of the Greek Ostomy Association: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Greece.ostomy.association/
If you have interesting information about what is going on in your association, or if you have any question, please let me know.
If there are any changes in the contact information, e.g. new president, address, telephone number, change website address or e-mail address, please inform Maria Hasz at our contact office in Germany, e-mail: info@ilco.de.
Best wishes to all of you and good luck with all your efforts for the ostomates in your country.
Ria Smeijers
Rijssen, the Netherlands
June 2016
