Since endometriosis affects one in ten girls, teenage ladies in Nigeria have sworn to raise awareness of the condition because early detection helps protect affected girls’ fertility.
Endometriosis is a challenging health problem in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant. Endometriosis can start at a person’s first menstrual period and last until menopause. It affects approximately about 176 million women worldwide. Studies have showed that one in 10 girls has endometriosis. It is a major cause of infertility and there is currently no cure for it but there are treatments available to manage the symptoms.
Nordica Fertility Centre, through the Endometriosis Support Group of Nigeria (ESGN), has been at the forefront of educating the masses and creating awareness mostly among young girls about the challenges of Endometriosis. Part of this awareness is organising annual essay competition among schools.
This year’s competition is the 7th Edition tagged: “ESGN 2023 Essay Competiton: Secondary School Category.” For this year’s event, 94 entries were received from schools all across the nation.
The convener of the competition and the MD/CEO, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, at the Prize giving/Award presentation to winners of the competition, in Lagos, said whatever affects women, also affects the family and ultimately the society at large.
As a renowned fertility expert, Ajayi gave insightful explanations about the challenges experienced by women afflicted with endometriosis. While regretting that there is no present cure, he posited that the condition can be better managed with treatments if detected early to prevent infertility in the future.
On reason for the competition, the fertility expert said the main goal of the competition was to create awareness on endometriosis among young girls, adding that the expectations from this year’s competition was met as judging from the writeups of the participants and winners of the competition, they have all gained additional knowledge which can positively impact lives when shared.
For their outstanding performance, the following students were recognised and presented with cash awards.
Miss Bolorunduro Oluwasarasimi, a student of All Saints College, Ibadan, emerged the overall winner of the competition with a cash price of N50,000; Miss Leila Eneche, student of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Oregun, emerged as the 1st runner up, with a cash price of N30,000; Miss Opara Nmesoma Success, student of Anglican Comprehensive High School, Ipaja, also emerged as the 1st runner up, with a cash price of N30,000 and Miss Egbejule Sharon Sisanmi, student of Anglican Comprehensive High School, Ipaja, emerged the 2nd runner up, with a cash price of N20,000.
A complete set of computer system including printer and UPS was donated to the winning school, All Saints College, Ibadan.
Ajayi congratulated the winners for job well done and encouraged them to be worthy advocates and apostles, not to relent but continue to educate their peers and others, to spread the news about endometriosis.
While expressing her joy and thanks to the sponsor, the overall winner, Miss Bolorunduro Oluwadarasimi said her love for writing motivated her to participate in the competition, adding that the strenuous hours spent studying research journals and publications has expanded her knowledge and scope about endometriosis and it has contributed to her resolution to become a medical doctor in the nearest future.
Oluwadarasimi however promised to be a titreless advocate of ESGN, spreading the news about endometriosis amongst her peers, friends, family and the society at large.
The other winners also pledged to become worthy advocates of ESGN to spread the message.
