STOMAlife Foundation

The STOMAlife Foundation (Fundacja STOMAlife) is a Polish non-profit organisation dedicated to people living with a stoma and to their families and carers. Its stated mission is to combat the social exclusion experienced by ostomy patients, to break the taboo associated with having a stoma, and to educate both patients and the wider public about the facts and myths of ostomy life. The foundation operates primarily through free services and educational materials rather than commercial products. Its flagship activities include StomaLINIA, a free 24-hour telephone helpline for people with a stoma and their loved ones, and a network of free consultation and training points (PKS) located across Poland. It also issues a patient card (Karta stomika) that makes everyday situations such as travel easier, runs free interactive online courses on stoma care, and publishes stoma atlases for healthcare professionals who educate patients. A guide to stomas explains what a stoma is, why it is created and how to manage it, while separate materials address reimbursement rules for ostomy supplies. The foundation publishes a quarterly health magazine, "Po Prostu Żyj" (Just Live), available in print and online, and maintains blogs such as Stomalife, Med4Me and Między nami. Its website organises information into sections on stoma basics, patient stories, diet, medical and health aspects, intimacy and sexual life, physical activity, psychological and social relations, and support for parents of children with a stoma. It also accepts donations to fund its work. The organisation is based in Poland and serves the Polish ostomy community. It is a charitable foundation rather than a commercial manufacturer or retailer, although it works closely with the medical supply and reimbursement ecosystem that ostomy patients depend on.

The STOMAlife Foundation is a Polish charitable organisation that supports people with ostomies. Public descriptions identify it simply as a Polish foundation supporting people with ostomies, and its own website presents a mature programme of services built around patient education and advocacy. Its work is organised around several long-running initiatives. StomaLINIA provides a free telephone helpline available 24 hours a day for people with a stoma and their relatives. A network of free consultation and training points (PKS) operates in many locations across Poland, giving patients local access to advice. The foundation issues a patient card (Karta stomika) designed to make difficult situations, such as travelling, easier for ostomy patients. It also runs free interactive online courses about stomas and their care, and produces stoma atlases for healthcare professionals who educate patients. Educational publishing is central to the foundation's activity. It distributes a guide explaining what a stoma is, why it is created and how to proceed, and provides information on reimbursement rules for ostomy supplies so that patients can navigate the path to a medical shop. It publishes the quarterly health magazine "Po Prostu Żyj" in both paper and online versions, and maintains blogs including Stomalife, Med4Me and Między nami. Its website covers topics such as basic stoma information, patient life stories, diet with a stoma, health and medical aspects, intimacy and sexual life, daily functioning and physical activity, medical consultations and specialist support, social relations and psychological aspects, and guidance for carers of children with a stoma. The foundation frames its mission as fighting the social exclusion that affects ostomy patients, breaking the taboo connected with a stoma, and educating patients and society about the facts and myths surrounding it. It accepts donations to support these activities. The available evidence does not specify its founding year, founders, headquarters address or legal registration details.

A patient-centred Polish ostomy charity focused on education, anti-taboo advocacy and free support services.

• StomaLINIA

  Free 24-hour telephone helpline for people with a stoma and their loved ones.

• Consultation and training points (PKS)

  A network of free consultation and training points across Poland.

• Karta stomika (patient card)

  A card that makes difficult situations, such as travel, easier for ostomy patients.

• Online courses

  Free interactive courses about stomas and their care.

• Stoma atlases

  Atlases for professionals educating patients about stomas.

• Stoma guide

  Explains what a stoma is, why it is created and how to proceed.

• Reimbursement information

  Guidance on reimbursement rules for ostomy supplies.

• "Po Prostu Żyj" quarterly

  A health-themed quarterly magazine available in print and online.

1. 1Fundacja STOMAlifestomalife.pl
2. 2STOMAlife Foundationwikidata.org