The winner of the 2022 Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN), Senior Secondary School Essay Competition, Miss Aisha Tijani, has vowed to contribute her quota to ensuring endometriosis is brought to its barest minimum, by creating more awareness about the condition that is affecting 190 million of reproductive age women and girls globally.
Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain and/or infertility. At present, there is no known cure for the condition and treatment is usually aimed at controlling symptoms. While the World Health Organisation (WHO) advised that
access to early diagnosis and effective treatment of endometriosis is important, it is limited in many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, due to poor awareness of the condition among young girls and doctors.
Miss Tijani, student of Crescent College, alongside the first runner-up, Udom God’sFavour, student of Prudence City College, Yaba and second runner-up, Oluwafemi Olafuyi, student of Rainbow College, at a press conference, organized by Nordica Fertility Centre in Lagos in conjunction with AstraZeneca Pharmaceutical, unanimously agreed that a lot of young girls are not aware of endometriosis, even as they vowed to be an advocate of the condition in Nigeria by bringing to the consciousness of young girls the challenges posed by the health condition and the need for early diagnosis.
For instance, Miss Tijani said prior to the Essay competition, she has never heard of endometriosis, adding that the competition enlightened her about the condition.]
“My friends and I were not aware of endometriosis and I believe other girls in Nigeria may have little or no information about the condition that affects them and could cripple their future. We all need to change the narrative about it. For me, I intend to create a social media platform where I would be able to talk about endometriosis as well as other female health conditions. My purpose is to join other advocates who are saving lives.
“The competition enlightened me about the disease which I knew nothing about before now. It also enabled me to know that research is very vital in information gathering. I have also been able to enlighten my friends about the endometriosis condition and I intend to take it further through social media,” she averred
In his address, the managing director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi while congratulating the winners, reiterated that endometriosis is capable of endangering the lives of people.
Ajayi said the condition is a chronic disease associated with severe, life-impacting pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination, chronic pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes depression, anxiety, and infertility, adding that, the variable and broad symptoms of endometriosis mean that healthcare workers do not easily diagnose it and many individuals suffering from it have limited awareness of the condition, thereby causing a lengthy delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis.
Ajayi said the Essay competition was put in place to enlightened young girls about the condition, adding that, “It is best to empower young girls and women with knowledge of endometriosis to enable them make an informed decision about their future and to become an advocates of the condition.”
In her contribution, Clinic Manager, Nordica Fertility Centre, Tola Ajayi, has also called on all stakeholders including young girls and women to become advocates of endometriosis in their various localities and ensure that more people are informed.
To create more awareness about the condition, English and Literature Teacher at Prudence City College, Egesi Ifeosorochi tasked the Ministry of Education to embark on endometriosis awareness campaign, while suggesting that a health club on the condition should be created in schools, so that young girls who may likely suffer from the condition, will be aware of it at an early stage, to enable them plan their future.
On his part, country manager, AstraZeneca Nigeria, Morris Nyarko, disclosed that the company will continue to champion the course of women, while urging the winners of the competition not to allow their environment to determine their greatness.
Nyarko said “Endometriosis is a health condition that is under-represented in society. It is noted to be very common among black women. We are happy to drive the agenda that bothers on awareness creation, every initiative that bothers on women becoming more conscious of their health that will lead them to better access to education and health care.”
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