With a mission to break the silence about an invisible, life-altering, chronic illness, EndoSurvivors International Foundation leveraged the 2nd Annual Amuwo Odofin Nurses Scientific Conference to raise awareness about the devastating effects of the enervating disease called Endometriosis.
Mrs Olivia Nwankudu the founder of EndoSurvivors International Foundation, in her lecture to the nurses, further strengthened the need for secondary healthcare providers to advocate for and empathize with women dealing with endometriosis and infertility. According to her, “there is so much being said and done about malaria, HIV, diabetes and some other diseases which can be well-prevented and effectively treated. How much empathy then should be shown to girls and women burdened with the most debilitating pain, a disease whose sufferers have absolutely no control over- as regards how it comes upon them?”
Mrs Faosat Olaide Animashaun, the Director of Nursing Services (DNS) of the Lagos State Health Service Commission enthused that “training is important for the nurses; to help them with excellent healthcare delivery even at the secondary care level. Continued education is a hallmark for improvement in the nursing profession”. The DNS and other seasoned facilitators Mrs Cole A.O- the MCC Apex Nurse and Mrs Oyaide- the Apex Nurse of General Hospital Lagos, lectured the nurses on ethics of the nursing profession, task-shifting, stress management, coping mechanisms when dealing with a huge number of patients and resilience in spite of rising demands on the profession.
Olivia expounded on the meaning, signs, symptoms, effects and management of endometriosis; reiterating that “severe menstrual pain which interferes with a girl/woman’s life should not be dismissed. Chronic pelvic pain is not normal. There are other pelvic pain generators which may be implicated other than endometriosis, however the beginning of a journey to diagnosis would be for women to seek treatment when they observe abnormalities. Hence the need for nurses to continually educate themselves, so as to provide counseling to suffering girls/women”.
The Nurses Conference took place at the Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre (MCC), a venue which hosted over 150 nurses for the 2-day power-packed, career-enhancing conference spanning from Wednesday November 22nd through Thursday November 23rd.
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