Million Woman March for Endometriosis

We will be marching from Devon House at 11:00am to Emancipation Park. The Rally at Emancipation Park will start at approximately 12:15pm.

We are asking persons that drive to park at Liguanea Club (across the street from Pegasus). Shuttles will take you to Devon House starting at 9:30. The last shuttle departs at 10:15.

This will allow you to have an easy way to get back to your vehicle at the end of the event.

Devon House
10:30 – Pre-march warmup routine
10:45 – Singing of the National Anthem
10:50 – Instructions
11:00 – DEPART FOR EMANCIPATION PARK

The Route

The goals of the Million Woman March for Endometriosis, although similar in concept for all participating countries, have been tailored to suit the particular circumstances of each country.

For Jamaica, in addition to the broad goal of simply raising awareness, we will be seeking change in the following four (4) sectors:

1. Government-funded Health Organizations

We believe that it’s crucial to work with governmental institutes in particular – Ministry of Health, National Health Fund – to effect the broad changes that are needed to overturn the status quo. Regarding the NHF, for example, we believe that the Endometriosis should be included in the list of chronic diseases.

We also believe that a group should be established which is wholly dedicated to these diseases to facilitate print awareness campaigns, and improve research and treatment options available women and girls suffering from endometriosis.

2. Ministries of Heath & Education, Health Screening in Schools

We will be requesting that the Ministries of Health & Education help us launch nationwide health screening in schools to screen for endometriosis and other chronic pelvic pain conditions that afflict girls.

Girls with endometriosis and related conditions are especially susceptible to misdiagnosis, so this initiative will aid in allowing early intervention which is key in treating and managing the disease.

3. Medical and Nursing School Educational Institutes

Even after numerous visits to their pediatricians, primary care physicians, gynaecologists, school nurses, and emergency room practitioners, millions of women and girls with endometriosis, fibroids, and chronic pelvic pain are still going undiagnosed for several years or are receiving inadequate care.

This is truly unconscionable and constitutes a national health crisis. Our nation’s medical and nursing schools need to do a better job of educating future doctors and nurses. Therefore, we will be demanding change at these public and private institutions. We will also be asking medical researchers to help us find cures and develop noninvasive tests for disorders that have been devastating millions of lives for thousands of years.

4. Media coverage, public education campaigns

And, finally, we are holding this worldwide mass demonstration to raise awareness in the media and in our local communities. Media coverage about endometriosis, for example, is woefully inadequate. There have been many hour-long specials about obesity and diabetes featured in the local and international media.

However, we are still waiting for the same consideration to be given to the millions of women and girls who have had their lives torn apart by one of the most painful and crippling disorders ever catalogued in the history of humankind. We will also be reaching out to private foundations to consider supporting researchers so that a cure can be found and noninvasive screening tests can be developed.

1) Help Spread the Word – We would be honored to have you join the campaign in any way that works for you, even if it’s just a post about the event details on your Facebook/Twitter/Blog.

2) Jamaica residents: Become a Precinct Manager – We are recruiting for volunteers who would like to be a Precinct Manager – that is, volunteers who would like to be in charge of outreach efforts for their particular neighborhood/city/school/university. For more details about how to become a Precinct Manager, please contact the event coordinator at [email protected].

3) Become an Associate Volunteer or Committee Member – For those who can only spare a little time for volunteering, there are still plenty of ways to contribute in a meaningful way. Join one of the committees, share your story with the documentary filmmaker who’ll be on board, or contribute poetry or other artistic works that will be featured at the demonstration and later published in book form. These are just some of the creative ways that could help the world understand how endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, or other chronic pelvic pain conditions have affected your life. For more details about how to become an Associate Volunteer, Committee Member, or contribute in other ways, please contact your local Precinct Manager or your Country Captain.

4) Jamaica-based residents: Attend the event in Kingston – Although we know it’s very difficult for those with chronic illnesses to travel, not to mention the burden of travel expenses, nevertheless we are asking everyone in Jamaica to try to attend the event in Kingston and to bring as many friends and family as possible. Chartered buses and other travel support will be available. For more information about travel support options, and other event details, please contact your local Precinct Manager so that you can begin coordinating travel plans, creating carpools, and sharing information.

It’s critical that we garner as large a turnout as possible so that we can show the world that we are serious and that we cannot – and will not – wait another day for change to happen.
Contact us if you’d like more information. Please feel free to email us at [email protected], if you would like more details.