The team at the Rectal Cancer Reference Center at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Algarve (CHUA) has developed a pioneering and innovative project in Portugal with the aim of improving the quality of life of ostomates.
The project, which started in two shopping centers of the Sonae group in the north of the country, essentially focuses on creating or adapting existing sanitary facilities for use by ostomized people (people who have undergone surgery in which an alternative exit route for faeces or urine is created).
In an interview, doctor Edgar Amorim, coordinator of the CHUA Rectal Cancer Reference Center, explains that the project aims to “identify and create” alternatives “that may be useful for society”.
«The presence of a stoma can imply profound changes in the physical and psychological quality of life of people with a stoma and their relatives or companions, thus affecting a very wide range of the population. Because it is unknown, or not visible, it is ignored or undervalued, and there is no mobilization to normalize the day-to-day lives of these people», explains the doctor, noting that, in the team's opinion, «the creation or adaptation of spaces for installations already existing sanitary facilities (for example, disabled toilet facilities) for use by ostomates can be the key to increasing the sense of well-being and rehabilitation of ostomates in society».
As for the reason why the project started in the North, Edgar Amorim explains that it is due to the fact that the Rectum Cancer Reference Center CHUA «has an ambition of national projection and not just regional».
«The reason this project started in the North is due to a partnership we established with the Reify team, from Sonae Sierra. Since this is a group that is very committed to innovation and is interested in innovative projects (do not forget that so far there is nothing similar in Portugal), this project was immediately accepted as an innovative, differentiating and pioneering measure of inclusion and promotion of improving the quality of life», he explains.
According to the health professional, the aforementioned toilets for ostomy patients are already installed in two shopping centers in the north (Arrábida and Maia shopping) but will soon also be present in a project on the island of São Miguel, in Viana from Castelo and Guimarães.
«The idea is to gradually expand the project to all bathrooms in Sonae Sierra's shopping centers and, at the same time, develop partnerships with public entities (municipalities) or other private groups».
Regarding the Algarve, the CHUA doctor explains that they are already working with the Portimão City Council for the project to move forward here.
«We hope to soon have the first public toilet adapted to the patient with a stoma. This is particularly important given the fact that Portimão is a popular tourist destination for many national and international visitors», stresses Edgar Amorim.
In Portugal there are around 15 people with an ostomy, of which around 12 are elimination ileostomies.
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