Heard - the word on chronic women’s health disorder

An Oldham charity who has felt like the lone voice on endometriosis could now have their message broadcast to millions.

And it’s all thanks to a film and campaign they have produced with the world’s first endo-friendly college. 

Endometriosis Awareness North has teamed up with Creative Media students at Shipley College across the Pennine border near Bradford. Together, they have made a documentary called “Unheard No More”, which aims to spur decision-makers into investing in decent diagnostic tools to detect the blight which wrecks the lives of one-in-ten women. 

Health Minister James Murray is one of the primary targets in a social media drive called #UNHEARD, which organisers hope has the same dramatic impact as another world-changing hashtag campaign - #MeToo. 

“Since we began this campaign in a small surgery in Chadderton we have relied upon the kindness of others to reach people such as potential Prime Minister Andy Burnham”, said Dr Anita Sharma, the founder of Endometriosis Awareness North.  

“We have made amazing progress in getting recognition of the condition and supporting those living with endo. But this film and campaign puts awareness on an entirely different level, and the potential is global. The students have done a remarkable job in designing and producing it, and I am sure it will counter misogyny in healthcare and reduce the suffering of millions of women.” 

Featuring interviews with Dr Sharma, plus Oldham endo warriors Lucy Bowker and Courtney Ormrod, the 10-minute short accompanies a campaign calling for:         

• The creation of one-stop endometriosis clinics with specialist expertise 
• Faster diagnosis and treatment pathways 
• Improved NHS women’s health services generally
• Greater public awareness of endometriosis, which was at pitiful levels amongst the public and the medical profession when Dr Sharma began her charity. 
Members of the public are encouraged to: 
• Sign the campaign petition calling for improvements to women’s healthcare services 
• Contact their MP using a downloadable campaign letter 
• Record and share a 30-second video describing their own experiences of endometriosis and the challenges they have faced. 

A spokesperson for Shipley College said: “Producing this documentary has been a powerful experience. Listening to the women involved made us realise just how many people are affected by endometriosis and how important it is that their experiences are heard. We hope the campaign encourages greater understanding of the condition and helps bring about positive change for those living with it.” 

Concluded Dr Sharma: “One of the key components for us with this campaign was to convince young people that they can use their considerable talents to change the world. Endometriosis affects the physical and mental health of their classmates, their friends, their families perhaps even themselves. #MeToo began with a hashtag on a social media post and altered the course of history. If we buy into this fabulous campaign, that could happen again with millions of lives altered for the better.” 

#Unheard launches at Shipley College on Wednesday, June 17 at noon.   
Support Endometriosis Awareness North by visiting https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com