HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS

Uterine Fibroids are noncancerous growths on the uterus. Fibroids can cause bloating, discomfort, pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and infertility in some women, but others experience no adverse symptoms. Women’s health advocates have long argued for greater public awareness about fibroids in order to counter cultural myths and limited understanding about the factors that promote its prevalence with a view to promoting prevention through actions that can minimize the suffering and anguish it causes. Also, to encourage more research and the development of better treatment options.

Presently, the surgical removal of the fibroids, a myomectomy, is one of the most frequent treatments available to Nigerian women. Myomectomies are expensive and beyond the financial capacities of many women and their families. This is one of the reasons the Foundation offered 100 free fibroid surgeries as part of its campaign.

As part of our work to promote health and wellbeing, we have carried out health awareness campaigns with a view to breaking myths about common diseases and to encourage people to look after their health.

In 2019, to mark our 18th anniversary, we launched a campaign, ‘Raising Awareness About Uterine Fibroids- Get Informed and Take Action.’ The highlight of the campaign was 100 free fibroid surgeries, myomectomies, to indigent women.

Over 1,000 women in urgent need of fibroid surgeries but lacking finances to cover the attendant costs attended our fibroid awareness event on September 21, 2019; 452 of the women registered to be considered for the surgeries. The surgeries are underway at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. To-date 75 women have undergone surgery.

Health awareness campaigns that have been carried out by the Foundation include a campaign on Kidney Disease through campaigns tagged

“Your Kidney and You” in 2018
“The Care You Need” campaign in 2017 during which people learned about and were screened for Diabetes.
Free PSA screening for men as part of its Prostate Cancer awareness campaign
In 2010, a health awareness programme focused on Parkinson’s Disease.