Africa-Press – Botswana. Supporting Botswana Endometriosis foundation is the key to enabling it to achieve its mandate of giving hope and education to those affected by the condition.
The founder of Botswana Endometriosis and an endometriosis warrior herself Ms Kgomotso Gagosi said in a recent interview that Botswana was among the countries that had purposed to show their support for those affected by endometriosis.
A passion borne out of a very unpleasant experience, Botswana Endometriosis foundation is a non-profit organisation formed to create awareness about endometriosis.
The organisation was established in 2015 with the aim to create public awareness on endometriosis, a medical condition that affects one in 10 individuals born with a uterus.
Ms Gagosi was informed that she had stage four endometriosis after years of being misdiagnosed and suffering excruciating menstrual cramps, hence the birth of Botswana Endometriosis.
“One of our goals is to sensitise more people in Botswana about what endometriosis is through our walks and presentations at schools, workplaces and various wellness days across the country,” she explains.
She said Botswana Endometriosis had successively created a safe haven for women living with the condition with a support whatsapp group.
But with every journey, Ms Gagosi said the organisation had faced some challenges.
“We still struggle with financing the foundation as currently we do everything out of our pocket and donations from individuals and companies,” she said.
She also stated that it was difficult to dispel common misconceptions about endometriosis.
“Comments such as women with endometriosis are lazy, infertile and endometriosis is period pains are untrue and misleading,” she said.
“We hope to dispel such myths through continuous sharing of information,” she adds. In March, which is endrometreosis awareness month, the organisation was running a campaign dubbed #YellowFridays every Friday to increase awareness of the disease.
“When someone sees a group of individuals wearing yellow it sparks curiosity. We have already done presentations at wellness days, clinics and school as well as awareness walk in Maun,” she said.
The awareness walk is an international awareness walk where foundations across the world will be walking for endometriosis while addressing the stigma that surrounds the disease.
“It is our mission to make sure that endometriosis is recognised as a chronic condition in the country and to make sure it gets the attention it deserves,” Ms Gagosi said.
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