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Fibroid Foundation Africa advocates free treatment for patients – MyJoyOnline The founder of the  Fibroid Foundation Africa (FibFA), Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Korasare, has lamented the high incidents of uterine fibroids in the country, especially among underprivileged women. She, therefore, called on academia, civil society groups, policymakers to brainstorm on mapping out policies towards “finding a solution to Fibroid.”.  Rev. Dr. Korasare was speaking at a workshop organized for women at Anfoega in the Volta Region, to commemorate International Women’s Day.  It was made possible from the North Dayi District Assembly and the Real Opportunities Network (RONET). “Anywhere you go, you walk around in the streets, you talk to women, and they are suffering silently, and yet there is no voice. There’s no one talking on their behalf. So International Women’s Day is a day, as I have already said, set aside to celebrate the hard-working women,”  she said. She suggested the provision of free basic services, including screening and diagnosis for fibroid patients at major health facilities, as a first step to combating the disease. She asserted that accessing free screening and diagnosis would enable patients to identify the disease early and begin treatment at the early stages to prevent the fibroid from developing to stage three. Dr. Rev. Korasare also called for the free administering of Vitamin D to infant females from age 14, to serve as a supplement “that will help reduce the burden of fibroid. “She opined that health facilities in the district should set aside a day to organize free fibroid screening for women. “It is important they pay attention to women’s health. And part of it is to provide free screening for all women from age 18 to 40 years”, she said. She explained that her organization seeks to provide support to women with fibroid condition by enlightening them on the disease and providing guidelines through treatment. The North Dayi District Chief Executive, Edmund Atta Kudjoh, believes the engagement would help erase some superstitious beliefs associated with fibroid and the ignorance among the populace. “We have to celebrate women, we have to honor women and use the opportunity for our people for social inclusion. I’m particularly pleased on the issue of the enlightenment on fibroid. Now, this is particular to women. And you see our women go into this trouble here and there, and some of them carry a lot of superstitions, and so today, I think the impact is great,”  he said. He entreated the participants to become ambassadors and educate those in their communities on the effects of fibroid on their wellbeing and the need for early diagnosis and treatment. “Beyond that, also is this issue of TB. That’s not to say that doesn’t affect the other gender. But of course, you know, women are vulnerable. And so, any attempt that we have to do at any time to ensure that we protect women, we will”, he said. Mr. Kudjo said that the Assembly would intensify education on reproductive health, adolescent health, empower women, and provide financial support to enable them expand their businesses. “We are adding value to the lives of the people. I believe that many of them who came here, didn’t know how to prepare liquid soap. So, for example, today, there are some job or skills at hand. It is expected that they’ll go out there and then make use of it,”  he added. The participants were enlightened on fibroid, the non-cancerous growth in the uterus, usually experienced during a woman’s childbearing years, with risk factors including family history of fibroids, obesity or early onset of puberty. Its symptoms are pains in the abdomen, lower back, or pelvis, abnormal menstruation, heavy menstruation, irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, spotting; and abdominal distension or cramp. There was focus on tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs. It is spread by airborne droplets of the bacteria when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is identified as a serious diseases which could lead to death if left untreated. Tuberclosis is in 3 stages; latent, active, and active disease. A fibroid survivor, Madam Cynthia Bidi, said the workshop had enlightened her on the condition she suffered in the past.“I want to advise my fellow friends and my fellow sisters,’ mothers that they should take these fibroids Seriously. As participant today, I learned a lot, though. I’m part of the fibroid patients, I have been suffering from fibroid for a long time, but through surgery I am now free”, she said. The workshop was organized in partnership with the North Dayi District Assembly, the  Fibroid Foundation Africa Real Opportunities Network (FibFA), and the Real Opportunities Network (RONET) to educate women on fibroid and tuberculosis. DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited. Source:      Fibroid Foundation Africa advocates free treatment for patients – MyJoyOnline

The Premier Launch of the Fibroid Champions Training Program Date: June 10, 2024 Location: Institute of Local Government, Madina – Accra The grand opening ceremony of the Fibroid Champions Training Program, scheduled for June 10, 2024, promises to be a momentous occasion filled with enthusiasm, commitment, and a shared vision for women’s health. Hosted by the Fibroid Foundation Africa in partnership with the University of Chicago and the Ghana Health Service Health Promotion Division, the event will be held at the Institute of Local Government in Madina, Accra. The ceremony will commence with a warm welcome from the program’s coordinators, emphasizing the importance of addressing fibroids, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide. The event will highlight the program’s goals to empower women through education, support, and advocacy, aiming to improve the quality of life for those affected by fibroids.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, there are some medical conditions that would greatly compromise the quality of life of many women if attention is not paid to them. One of such diseases is Uterine Fibroids. They are the most common benign tumours in women and it is estimated that between 70-80% of black women will harbor fibroids over their lifetime. Fibroids come with symptoms; however, some women are oblivious of its presence while 1 in 4 women ends up with symptoms severe enough to require treatment. The symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, long and irregular periods, frequent urination and pelvic pressure. Apart from the physical symptoms, the psychological impact of fibroids should not be overlooked. A global study assessing the emotional impact of fibroids revealed that women reported feeling helpless with no control over their fibroids because of the difficulty managing and predicting the heavy menstrual flow and some expressed fear that their fibroids will grow or experience further health complications. Despite the high prevalence of fibroids among women, high-quality data on the Ghanaian situation is unavailable to facilitate the formulation of evidence-based guidelines to address patients’ needs adequately. The gap in medical knowledge regarding COVID-19, has also heightened fear, anxiety, emotional stress and confusion that can hinder overall physical health and may aggravate fibroid symptoms by influencing cycle length, vaginal bleeding patterns, and painful periods. My personal experience was traumatic. I was rendered helpless, confused with bouts of unexpected bleeding. My general well-being was greatly compromised until I opted for a surgery. According to Mariana Ndrio (University of Medicine & Health Sciences in St. Kitts) these few tips could be helpful in restoring a sense of control and ease in these difficult and unprecedented times. If you are feeling uncertain or anxious, know that you are not alone; your worries and feelings are valid; stay calm as you follow these tips. Stay in touch with your healthcare provider While it is true that a lot of non-urgent appointments and elective surgeries are cancelled, do not hesitate to stay in touch with your healthcare provider. COVID-19 should not halt or compromise access to necessary medical care for women suffering from fibroids. Keep to your prescribed medication You might worry that your current medications might be making you vulnerable to the COVID-19 or you might be feeling uncertain regarding the continuation of your current prescribed medications or supplements. Nonetheless, it is important that you continue taking your prescribed medications and/or supplements unless otherwise advised by your physician. Maintain healthy eating habits. Dieticians recommend an increase in the consumption of vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale which recent research has suggested may prevent the cellular proliferation of fibroids and consequently prevent severity of symptoms. Check your serum vitamin D level There has been significant amount of scientific evidence that vitamin D may inhibit fibroid growth. Get tested and get the needed medication to correct any deficiency. Recent studies also show that vitamin D can have a protective effect against COVID-19. Reduce alcohol consumption. Stay hydrated by consuming adequate amounts of water. Eliminate alcohol and caffeine, they can affect the liver by reducing its effectiveness at metabolizing oestrogen in the body.  Additionally, the WHO has urged the public to reduce consumption of alcohol during COVID-19 pandemic, because it compromises the body’s immune system making people vulnerable to COVID-19. By avoiding alcoholic beverages, you are protecting yourself from both COVID-19 and fibroids. Boost your mental wellbeing by trying the following Meditate, practice mindfulness and pray often. Monitor your thoughts and feelings. Limit the amount of media you ingest daily. Maintain a sufficient sleep schedule. Exercise regularly to reduce your BMI to prevent fibroid growth and alleviate symptoms. Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem. And remember, during these confusing and unprecedented times and while you are feeling that this pandemic is affecting you, a bit harder than the rest, there is always a community of women who are feeling exactly like you— don’t suffer alone. Get in touch. From Fibroid Foundation Africa & Global Fibroid Alliance: advocating for a greater focus on Uterine Fibroids. Email: womengh@gmail.com/ +233242801535  

Dr. Sandra Madueke-Laveaux’s visit to Ghana. On March 13th, FibFA Fibroid Foundation Africa, facilitated a visit by Dr. Sandra, Associate Professor, OBGYN, from the University of Chicago, United States to Ghana. The primary objective of her visit was to familiarize herself with a project funded by the University of Chicago Global Partners Fund, for which she serves as the Principal Investigator. This project entails the development of a detailed training manual designed to equip Fibroid Champions with in-depth knowledge about fibroids and a visually engaging flipchart to aid in awareness campaigns.  Accordingly, she interacted with Ghana Health Service (GHS) officials, and a representative of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to discuss issues surrounding fibroid prevalence, data collection challenges, training initiatives, and potential interventions to alleviate the suffering of women affected by fibroids in Ghana. Dr. Sandra’s commenced her visit with a meeting at the FibFA Fibroid Foundation Africa’s offices in Nungua, Accra. The meeting provided an opportunity for FibFA staff to showcase their ongoing efforts in assisting women affected by fibroids and raising awareness about the condition within communities. The CEO, Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Korasare highlighted the organization’s dedication to disseminate information, and raise awareness about fibroids on the markets, radio stations, churches and at community programs. Dr. Sandra gained insights into FibFA’s mission, objectives, and the scope of their work in addressing fibroid-related challenges. Touching on alternative treatments for fibroids, the CEO mentioned Tigovit, (Green Tea Extract) a product that has garnered attention for its potential benefits in managing fibroid symptoms. The conversation touched upon the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of alternative treatment options like Tigovit which most women desire, opening avenues for further exploration and dialogue on complementary approaches to fibroid management. Visit to Ghana Health Service (GHS) Offices: Dr. Sandra met with Dr. Fofie, Head of safe Motherhood Program, at the Ghana Health Service Offices in Accra.  Their discussions primarily revolved around the challenges associated with capturing accurate data on fibroid prevalence in Ghana. Dr. Fofie, highlighted the limitations of the current data capturing system, nevertheless, he indicated the efforts toward data quality. He further mentioned the ongoing policy revision on reproductive health and expressed a desire to address fibroid issues within the policy. Dr. Sandra assured Dr. Fofie of her support by providing policy documents on uterine fibroids to serve as references point for the ongoing policy revision. This concern underscores the importance of integrating fibroid issues into broader health policies to ensure comprehensive care for affected individuals. Visit to the Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service Subsequently, Dr. Sandra visited the offices of the Health Promotion Division at KorleBu, Accra and there, she interacted with the team actively involved in developing the fibroid training manual. The team led by Mr. Nyanney, Senior Health Promotion Officer, expressed their enthusiasm regarding the development of the manual. Mr. Nyanneh, emphasized the significance of this maiden initiative, highlighting the absence of educational materials specifically addressing uterine fibroids in Ghana and Africa as a whole. He indicated that the development of the manual represents a crucial step towards filling an existing gap and providing essential resources for healthcare professionals and the general public.   In furtherance, Mr. Nyanney briefed Dr. Sandra on their recent pre-testing exercise which took place in six administrative districts of Ghana to assess the viability and suitability of the training manual for public use. Finally, Mr. Nyanneh conveyed gratitude to the University of Chicago for spearheading the initiative to develop the first fibroid training manual. He expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort, recognizing it as the first of its kind in Africa and emphasized the importance of international partnerships and initiatives in addressing healthcare challenges and promoting knowledge exchange and capacity building. Additionally, Dr. Sandra provided valuable insights into the content of module One of the manual, enriching the team’s understanding and contributing to the manual’s effectiveness. Visit to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.The delegation concluded their visit by meeting with Dr. Edward Decker from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The primary agenda was to explore the feasibility of fortifying foods with Vitamin D as a potential intervention for alleviating fibroid-related symptoms. Dr. Sandra highlighted existing studies linking Vitamin D supplementation to fibroid management, sparking discussions on potential collaboration between CSIR and health authorities to explore this avenue further. Concluding, it is worth noting that the visit served as a productive platform for exchanging ideas, sharing expertise, and exploring innovative solutions to address fibroid issues in Ghana and beyond. The commitment demonstrated by both local health officials and international experts like Dr. Sandra emphasizes the need for collaboration and partnership to encourage conversations on fibroids and promote efforts to effectively implement comprehensive strategies for fibroid prevention, treatment, and awareness.

Assessing The Challenges Of Fibroids: Ghana Perspective The following paper presents a study on Assessing the Challenges of Fibroids: Ghana Perspective. Through the use of qualitative data, we investigated the distribution of facilities with the capacity to provide surgical intervention to uterine fibroids, assessed the challenges of the disease amongst women and more. These results contribute to the existing body of knowledge on Uterine fibroids in Ghana. READ MORE

A partnership with the University of Chicago Center for Global Health has become a great success for our work in Ghana. This summer, two (2) research fellows – Thembi Ndebele an MPH candidate specializing in Epidemiology/Global Health and Narvella Sefah of the Medical School University of Chicago, are currently in Ghana supporting the Fibroid Foundation Africa (FibFA), Accra and Sena Institute of Technology (SIT), Penyi-Dzodze in the Volta Region in a research project to assess the prevalence, impact and the genetic/environmental factors of fibroid disease among women in Ghana. To meet the research objectives, the fellows will review medical records of at least one hospital across the Northern, Ashanti, Volta and Greater Accra regions of Ghana for a comprehensive assessment of the disease in the country. Medical charts will be utilized in the process to determine the prevalence and burden of Uterine Fibroids amongst women in Ghana. They will also conduct interviews with clinicians and focus group discussions with patients to learn about the socioeconomic impact of the disease, its effect on the quality of life of women, and the current treatment options available in the country. The focus groups are a novel way to enable Ghanaian women to have their voices heard which will impact reproductive health policies and help drive public education as well. Additionally, the fellows will work on establishing a cell line to determine the genetic drivers of fibroids and assess the relationship between Vitamin D and the risk of uterine fibroid development. Vitamin D deficiency have been related to high risk of fibroid development in black women of African descent compared to their racial counterparts. We therefore, expect this highly innovative research, the first in Ghana to lead to substantial changes in the reproductive health policy of the country, initiate vitamin D supplementation interventions for women and policy on regular screening of uterine fibroids in young women. The fellows will be in the country for eight (8) weeks starting from June 10 through to August 18, 2022.

Studies have shown that 70-80% of women will get fibroids in their lifetime. Black women carry the burden of uterine fibroids, at a much higher rate than their racial counterparts. Some women with fibroids remain asymptomatic and may go through their entire life without knowing they have the disease. The exact cause remains elusive and very few women are able to seek treatment through surgical and non – surgical methods . Unfortunately, the literature on how to prevent fibroid development is scarce. Read More