Joy Anyim
As part of the activities lined to mark this year’s Endometriosis Awareness Month, the Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria (ESGN) is set to hold a walk come Saturday, March 16, 2019.
According to the founder of ESGN, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, the month of March is globally recognised as Endometriosis awareness month.
Ajayi who briefed Journalist on Tuesday at Nordica Fertility Centre in Ikoyi said the theme for this year’s awareness is ‘Time to End the Silence’.
Speaking on the need for increased awareness about the disorder, the founder of ESGN said the government and the media have a greater roll to play to achieve this.
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He said, “ We want to continue to have discussions on Endometriosis because, it is not an uncommon disorder and race has nothing to do with it.The media needs to report on it more because it is not just peculiar to married women.
“ Young and single ladies can have it. It also has nothing to do with promiscuity. Therefore the media has to educate people on Endometriosis, people need to know what the symptoms are.
“ A woman may be having extremely painful menstruation and sometimes bleeding at other parts of the body during menstruation. It may not be normal, it is most likely Endometrosis.It could even be pains during sex or convulsion.”
On other activities for the awareness, Ajayi said ESGN had organised a school essay where 32 entrance were received and that a winner had been picked.
While calling for support from the government and private organisation, Ajayi said ESGN plans to carry out a school survey across the federation to determine the age girls start menstruating, their level of hygiene during such period and much more.
He said such data will aid the government in planning and that academic institutions can also benefit from it. He however, lamented the lack of funds that has made the project an impossible task.
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“ We have a lot we would want to do but we are limited by funds. It is only the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research that is collaborating with us and they cannot do much.
“ Although we are trying in our own little way, we still need the government and other private organisations to partner with us. If we can detect Endometriosis at a young age, it is easier to manage the condition.”
The Co-ordinator of ESGN, Mrs. Fola Ajayi who was also present at the press briefing said the 2019 awareness was the 14th in its series.
She said the walk which will start at City Mall, Onikan at 7am is aimed at encouraging persons with the disorder to speak out.
Mrs. Ajayi maintained it is important for people to stop the stigmatisation that is associated with the disorder, saying anyone with Endometriosis should speak out rather than suffer in silence.