15.06.2010 Another step in stoma care

Dulci Westfa was operated for intestinal cancer a few years ago and was given a stoma. While in a hospital in Amsterdam she learned how to live with a stoma and use the necessary ostomy supplies.

Back in Surinam she was confronted with the problematic shortage of ostomy supplies. She even met fellow patients who went about with plastic baggies stuck to their stomachs. Furthermore, she discovered that very few people had the knowledge to properly take care of a stoma. All in all, having a Stoma turned out to be a huge taboo in Surinam. Dulci sought to shatter this taboo by inviting a television crew in her home to film how she lived with her stoma.

Dulci also contacted Stichting Corantijn in 2005. After hearing about her difficulties we decided to collect ostomy supplies for her and her fellow patients. Because of all the help she was given in the Netherlands and het knowledge ostomy supplies, Dulci had come to be known as a 'Stoma Foundation'.

Hospitals now send their patients to Dulci as she has all the necessary knowledge and experience. This knowledge and the supplies we provide her with, enable her to help these patients. Sometimes she asks for a small reimbursement. This allowed her to purchase air-conditioning, which is necessary for the storage of ostomy supplies. Otherwise, these supplies would quickly degrade in Surinam's hot climate. In what should be seen as a huge achievement, four nurses of various hospitals now come to Dulci to learn how to properly take care of a stoma.

We are very proud to have been able to do our part in this.

Clara Anbeek