Media personality Natalie Githinji has appealed to President William Ruto to consider including comprehensive endometriosis treatment under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
According to her, the cost of care remains too high for many women living with the condition.
Natalie said patients continue to struggle with the cost of consultations, surgery, medication, and ongoing treatment despite the serious effects of the disease.
“My name is Natalie Githinji, and I have battled endometriosis for 17 years now,” Natalie said.
Natalie Githinji appeals for SHA support for those suffering from endometriosis
Additionally, Natalie explained that endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside the uterus.
According to her, the disease can grow in any part of the body and has no cure.
She said it causes unbearable monthly periods, heavy bleeding, fatigue, nausea, lower back pain, pain during sex, difficulty getting pregnant or infertility, irregular periods, and chronic pelvic pain.
The media personality further said many women are affected by endometriosis and called for more awareness to help people understand the condition.
She said girls in high school may be diagnosed without knowing anything about the disease, only to learn later that there is no cure and that treatment is expensive.
“Today if you pass 10 women, 1 has endometriosis. Now imagine the girls in high school who have no clue about it, then get diagnosed and find out that it has no cure and treatment is still expensive,” she added.
Natalie appealed to the government to support an Endometriosis Awareness Campaign that would educate both women and men about the condition.
She said such efforts would help break the stigma and encourage people to recognise that the disease is real and deserves urgent attention.
The media personality further urged the government to improve support for patients by including comprehensive endometriosis care under SHA as financial burden of treatment is one of the biggest challenges facing women living with the disease.
