023 - “No Ostomy Bags, So They Use Plastic Bags”: The Dark Reality Of Life With A Stoma In Africa - Sam Yiollaris

In this episode of The Survival Project, Jonathan Healy speaks with Sam Yiollaris, founder of Footprints to Africa, a UK charity redistributing surplus stoma supplies to under-resourced hospitals across Africa.After her colorectal cancer diagnosis and a year living with a stoma, Sam discovered a devastating reality: while life-saving stoma surgery exists in many African countries, access to basic ostomy supplies often does not.The result? Isolation, preventable suffering, and loss of dignity.Footprints to Africa now works to collect and redistribute bowel and bladder medical supplies, support hospitals, reduce medical waste, and restore dignity to ostomates across multiple African nations.This conversation explores:• Life with a stoma• Colorectal cancer and IBD• Global inequality in ostomy care• Chronic illness and isolation• Sustainability and medical waste• The emotional toll of advocacy• How to donate stoma supplies or fundraiseIf you live with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, or an ostomy, this episode will resonate deeply.Listen now and learn how you can support the mission.If this episode moves you, follow the podcast and share it.Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jonathan-footprints2africa?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020Contact: [email protected]