Endo Sisters East Africa Foundation is a social advocacy organization conducting community awareness activities. We do this in support of the legal and natural rights of women living with endometriosis and other menstrual disorders as a means to achieving social justice.
The mission of Endo Sisters East Africa Foundation is to share information, collaborate, advocate, educate and encourage women & girls suffering from Endometriosis and related ailments (Infertility and associated menstrual disorders).
The Foundation was formed with the vision of promoting early diagnosis of menstrual disorders and keeping hope alive for endo warriors within East Africa. Endometriosis is a women’s disorder where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found elsewhere in the body – mainly in the abdominal cavity thus causing chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, heavy bleeding and infertility.
As part of enhancing awareness, we created the #YellowNailsMovement campaign that aims to create a visual identifier for endometriosis in East Africa through yellow nails and yellow ribbons. This was supported by the launch slogan, ‘start the conversation’.
This year, as we continue with the conversation and as a reflection of the program work that we are engaged in, our thematic message is ‘Be informed, take action!’. Click here for additional resources.
Approximately 1 out of every 10 women of childbearing age have endometriosis and 176 million women worldwide live with endometriosis.
Our overall intended outcome is to see an environment in Kenya where endometriosis is included in the reproductive health agenda. This should be evidenced at the very minimum by the availability of gynecologists’ (qualified to undertake laparoscopic surgery) in each of the 47 counties level 5/6 hospitals. The output is expected to be increased access (number of women accessing medical care) and lowered costs (consultation, medication, and laparoscopy) in respect to endometriosis treatment and management in Kenya. At Endo Sisters East Africa Foundation, we continue to actively create awareness among young girls and adolescents and influence the Education sector through both our Endometriosis and other menstrual disorders Wellness training and outreach program.
In terms of our regional East Africa focus, we are currently collaborating with organizations in both Rwanda and Ethiopia as well as exploring various collaboration opportunities with organizations within the Eastern African region to help advance the agenda on endometriosis and other menstrual disorders awareness.