*Nordica Holds 2nd Edition Media Merit Awards
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This year’s Endometriosis Awareness (Endo)
Campaign is expected to make a big difference with the attendance of Professor
Isaac Adewole, foremost industrialist and economist, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande,
Wives of Governors among other dignitaries who will champion the event’s Gala
Night on March 19, in Lagos.
The event which is coming along with the second
edition of Nordica Media Merit Awards (NMMA) is being hosted by the
Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN).
Speaking this at a splendidly attended press
conference to announce activities to mark this year’s Endo campaign, the lead
Medical Consultant, ESGN, and the Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre,
Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, said the aim of the campaign was to draw attention to the
‘invisible disease’ affecting millions of Nigerian women.
Endometriosis is a medical condition that occurs
when the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows in other places,
such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries or along the pelvis.
The main symptoms are pelvic pain and infertility.
Nearly half of those affected have chronic pelvic pain, while in 70 per cent
pain occurs during menstruation.
Pain during sex is also common. Infertility occurs
in up to half of women affected. Less common symptoms include urinary or bowel
symptoms. About 25 per cent of women have no symptoms. Endometriosis can have
both social and psychological effects.
Dr. Ajayi said the disease was often misunderstood
and misdiagnosed, yet treatable and preventable, adding that women need not go
through the pain and discomfort resulting from the condition.
The Nordica boss added: “While the symptoms may
include pain, irregular bleeding and infertility, it presently has no cure, but
can be well managed.”
Dr Ajayi also said that the aim of this year’s
campaign which the theme: “Endometriosis in Adolescence,” is to bring awareness
to the society, especially adolescents.
According to the organisers, the awareness
campaign will start with a walk in Abuja on March 2, another walk in Lagos on
March 11, a host of other activities, while the climax will be the Endo Gala
Night on March 19.
Meanwhile, Nordica has announced the opening of
entries for NMMA, which will reward excellence in fertility reportage across
electronic, digital and the print medium in Nigeria.
The awards, which annually celebrates in-depth and
informative report on In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), hopes to continue to
encourage journalists to make fertility issues, which affects over 25 per cent
of Nigerian couples, a front burner, such that with more awareness, Nigerians
suffering from the condition can seek help.
The NMMA celebrates the talented work of
journalists that increase public awareness about fertility issue with
exceptional stories
According to Nordica, those eligible to apply are
journalists who have written or aired stories on fertility between January 2016
and January 31, 2017. Submission of entries started January 13 and is billed to
end February 14. Entries can be submitted via the award’s website,
www.nmma.com.ng
The winners in the three categories, who will go
home with a cash prize of N250,000 each, will be announced at the Gala Night to
end the endometriosis campaign.
