The Danish Ostomy Association - Read about COPA in English

The Danish Ostomy Association - Read about COPA in English: Opdateret den 18/1-2009 kl. 17:42 af Stomiforeningen COPA

Read about COPA in English right here.

COPA was founded in 1951, as the first national ostomy association in the world.
The letters "COPA" stand for COlostomy PAtient, as it was the most common ostomy at that time.

COPA has today approx. 3,450 members and there are 10-12,000 patients in Denmark.

Please contact COPA if you need more information than contained in this article about ostomy in Denmark or COPA.

Click here to contact COPA

COPA is organized with an executive committee consisting of the elected president, vice-president, and 3 elected local chairmen, all elected for two years.
The committee is responsible for the services COPA provides.
The election takes place once a year at a meeting for all chairmen of the local chapters.

There are two annual meetings for the chairmen of the local chapters. One meeting is a budget meeting, where the events for next year are planned. The other meeting confirms the past year's budget and the election to the executive committee are held here as well.

Main Objects of COPA

The main objects of COPA are...

To make the situation better for ostomy/pouch operated and people with other diseases in the intestines.
To serve as a mouthpiece for all ostomy patients when facing the public health system.
To provide free help and advice to people before, during and/or after their hospitalization on topics like "how to live a normal life with an ostomy". You don't have to be a member to receive this guidance.
To inform the public and health system about living with an ostomy, mostly conducted as education in nursing schools and participating in seminars and exhibitions.
Act to prevent the many tabooes about living with an ostomy.
To arrange events for members, in the form of a summer Holliday, a midlife weekend for the 40 to 55 years group, children's camp, local meetings, where the local chapters hold a mix of social and informative meetings for their members.
To help other countries build ostomy associations, and give practical help, by sending spare ostomy products to help those who are in need.

COPA has supported Lithuania in a decade and is now helping in Ukraine.

COPA Membership

Membership fee: 30 EUR/year (225.00 DKK) (16.75 EUR/year (125.00 DKK) for retired or supporting members).
COPA has a magazine that comes out six times a year.