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| VISIT – From left: Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2015, Miss Unoaku Temitope Anyadike, with Director Principal, Queens College Lagos, Dr.Lami Amodu, and Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Asaba & Abuja, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, during an awareness visit against Endometriosis, organised by the Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, Monday. |
FOR several years as a teenager, Miss Unoaku Anyadike, suffered painful periods to the extent that she feared she was suffering from Endometriosis.
Unuaku, now 21, a graduate of Psychology from the University of Ibadan, and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, MBGN 2015, told Health & Living that it was the fear of endometriosis that inspoired her to learn about the condition and also to resolve to create awareness about it, especially among young girls in the country.
Unuaku, now 21, a graduate of Psychology from the University of Ibadan, and the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, MBGN 2015, told Health & Living that it was the fear of endometriosis that inspoired her to learn about the condition and also to resolve to create awareness about it, especially among young girls in the country.
Last week while addressing the students of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, the beauty queen declared that she was on a mission to create awareness about endometriosis.
“I came here to sensitise, enlighten and inform the girls of this school about endometriosis. I want them to know what it is and that it starts from as early as 11 years of age. A child can even have it at age 10 without knowing.”
Pet project
“This is my pet project as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2015," Unoaku stated.
"I chose to work on this particular condition because it is one that many Nigerians do not appear to know much about.As a student and boarder here, I used to have terrible menstrual pains. At one point I feared that I might be having endometriosis.
" I was in so much pain. I could not have my bath, it was my room mate that would help me to bathe. It was that bad. So I read up about the condition. Unoaku said she decided to visit Queens College first because it is her almá mater, and considering it a girls' only school, there was no better place to start off the campaign basically to create awareness."
In her contribution, the Director Principal, Queens College Lagos, Dr (Mrs) Lami Amodu, commended the campaign initiative and described it as highly significant.
“The talk has created awareness among my young girls concerning the deadly endometriosis disease that is rampant among young girls today. Many of the girls we have here are aged between 13 - 15, so they benefited.
Dr. Amodu said the occasion was also significant because the current MBGN is an old girl of Queens College and she is quite passionate about her pet project which is endometriois.
Grassroots focus
"She (MBGN) wants the information to get to the grassroots and therefore she was here to talk to the young girls in order to sensitize them of effects of endometriosis.
"Many girls suffer cramps, lower back pain and all manner of aches and discomfort which they may not be aware could be endometriosis, Amodu stated.
The medical team led by Dr. Abyomi Ajayi, Medical Director, Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Abuja & Asaba, spoke to the girls during their morning assembly, providing information about measures to prevent and manage the condition and where help can be obtained.
Dr Ajayi said the best way to tackle endometriosis was through awareness to encourage the girls and parents.
Ajayi said the role of the Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria, ESGN, was to break the silence surrounding the disorder, while enabling women and girls to seek appropriate and prompt treatment.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb is found elsewhere – most commonly on the ovaries, in the recto-vaginal septum, bladder and bowel. The tissue bleeds every month, and can cause severe and chronic pain.
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| Cross section of the students |
