Lagos fertility centre popularly known as Nordica Fertility, penultimate Saturday, celebrated Endo Week with a Road Walk enlightenment campaign on endometriosis. As early as 7am, a huge crowd had gathered at City Mall in Onikan Central Lagos, the starting point for the exercise. But the walk itself was preceded by an aerobic session and a surprise rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” for Mrs Onigbanjo Jibike who has been a staunch endometriosis awareness advocate over the years.
In the crowd were the Management and
Staff of the main host Nortica Fertility, and other sponsoring organisations
like Diamond Bank. Media men, students and those who came purposefully to gain
knowledge about endometriosis were also there.
While Nordica Fertility chose yellow,
purple and blue coloured T-shirts, Diamond Bank chose colour black and white with
purple for its T-shirt design. And when the walk began, it was a sea of people
who walked all the way from Onikan, going through the whole length of Awolowo
Road, Ikoyi, over the bridge linking Ikoyi with Victoria Island, to the final
destination which was Justice Muri Okunola Park at Victoria Island. Indeed a
carnival like procession with music in the background, information sharing on endometriosis
and a long motorcade.
Endometriosis is that, which affects
women of reproductive age is usually accompanied by excruciating pain,
especially during menstruation. The condition occurs when tissues that line the
inner womb start growing outside the womb. These tissues continue to behave
like those inside the womb, shedding itself during menstruation with no outlet
to flow out of the body.
For the past 12 years, the Endometriosis
Support Group has carried out various activities to raise awareness about the
condition in Nigeria and one of such initiatives is the annual Endo March.
To round up the Endo Walk enlightenment
campaign, CEO of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, was on hand to
give a talk on Endometriosis to the huge crowd of people that gathered at the
Park.
He said that though endometriosis is
known to be one of the leading causes of infertility, many women with
endometriosis still get pregnant.
“Most Nigerian women with endometriosis
find out when they go to investigate the cause of their infertility, usually in
their thirties. This is late because endometriosis starts with the first
menstrual period, usually around 13years”.
“That is why we have decided that this
year we should focus on creating this awareness among adolescents, as well as
among their parents and caregivers, so that they understand this condition and
help those affected by it get proper care and support.”
Speaking on why Diamond Woman partnered
with the Endometriosis Support Group on the march, Mrs. Aisha Ahmad, Head of
Consumer Banking, Diamond Bank said that the bank was passionate about
investing in Nigerian women and helping them achieve their potential. This
informed the bank’s choice of “Bank on Her” as the theme of its 2017
international women’s day celebration.
She described endometriosis as a
condition capable of hindering the progress of sufferers in their various
endeavors and urged people to be understanding of those suffering from the
condition.
Other partners who supported the 2017
Worldwide Endo March include Malta Guinness, Jumia Foods, UAC, Town Criers, Wow
Roadshow and the National Youth Service Corps.
No comments:
Post a Comment