50% of women have uterine fibroids, says expert

One out of every two women has uterine fibroids, a reproductive physician has disclosed. Speaking during an interactive session in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 18th anniversary of OB Lulu Briggs Foundation, a consultant gynaecologist with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Rosemary Ogu, said the prevalence of this […]

One out of every two women has uterine fibroids, a reproductive physician has disclosed.

Speaking during an interactive session in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 18th anniversary of OB Lulu Briggs Foundation, a consultant gynaecologist with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Rosemary Ogu, said the prevalence of this health condition is more rampant than can be imagined.

Commending the Board and management of OB Lulu Briggs Foundation for its plan to sponsor the treatment of women suffering from uterine fibroids as the high point of its 18th anniversary this Saturday (21th September), she said with a population of 200 million people amidst lean financial resources, there is no way the government alone can take care of the health needs of the populace.

Dr. Ogu, who is the former chairman of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (Rivers State chapter), said this was what encouraged the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to partner with the Foundation on this years anniversary with the theme, Raising Awareness about Uterine Fibroids Get Informed. Take Action.”

Also speaking at the event, the coordinator of programmes of OB Lulu-Briggs Foundation, Mrs. Ineba Tongkam, said in commemoration of the 18th anniversary, which comes up at the La Sien Pavilion, 22, Forces Road, Port Harcourt, this Saturday, the Foundation would sponsor 100 free fibroids surgeries.

She said the seminar is a knowledge event which aims at breaking the myth about fibroids, adding that both men and women are expected to attend.

Men should attend because every man has women in his life, whether as a mother, sisters, wife or daughters, she said.

According to her, the programme is being organized in partnership with both the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

The OB Lulu-Briggs Foundation was founded in 2001 to consolidate the informal corporate social responsibility efforts of the founder of Moni Pulo, High Chief OB Lulu-Briggs, who passed on last December and was being overseen by his wife and executive vice chairman of the company, Pastor (Mrs.) Seinye OB Lulu-Briggs.

The Foundations Medical Missions Programme started out as the Care for Life Quarterly Free Medical Week in Abonnema, Rivers State, in 2005. Since then, 124,826 men, women and children in rural and semi-urban areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers states have received access to quality health care services and health awareness education free of charge.

The Foundation has also responded to huge un-met demand for ophthalmic care across the Niger Delta by taking vison care clinics to communities to promote good vision for all and help prevent conditions that routinely impair sight.

The Foundation also promotes preventive health through awareness raising campaigns and covers the costs of specialized medical treatments for individuals from indigent families.