Endometriosis group that quit HSE taskforce launches billboards to call for 'urgent' change
Endometriosis patient group Her Voice Project are launching the billboard campaign to raise awareness of the condition. Picture: Her Voice Project
An endometriosis patient group which quit a HSE taskforce in frustration has launched a billboard campaign to call for “urgent” changes in care.
One of the cases featured is a teenage girl who travelled to England for care when she could not get specialist help close to home.
Her Voice Project co-founder Robyn Murray said they want more people to understand how devastating this disease can be.
An estimated one in seven girls and women in Ireland is affected, reflecting the global picture.
“Advocates have worked to raise awareness that endometriosis is a complex, chronic disease that extends far beyond menstruation, and it is vital that this distinction is recognised,” she said.
Co-founder of the advocacy group, Lisa Walsh, had also been a member of the state’s endometriosis priority actions advisory group until recently.
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This also includes the Department of Health, Irish College of GPs, and the HSE’s national women’s and infants health programme.
Ms Murray said: “At the forums, we highlighted how urgently a dedicated endometriosis campaign is needed.
“While we understand that the Department of Health may include endometriosis within an upcoming period health campaign, we strongly believe that doing so risks once again reducing endometriosis to a 'period issue'."
Instead, Her Voice Project is now launching its own efforts.
Sixteen-year-old Ella O'Riordan is one of the patients featured in the campaign.
Ms Murray said the teenager spent “years seeking answers and adequate care in Ireland” and later travelled to Oxford for specialist treatment.
“Ella's experience highlights the reality faced by so many women and girls living with endometriosis, prolonged dismissal of symptoms, delayed diagnosis, and the need to travel abroad to access the care she deserves at home,” she said.
“Her story underscores why greater awareness, earlier intervention, and improved services are so urgently needed.”
The campaign is in collaboration with Micro Media, a firm specialising in music, culture and brands on digital screens, along with support from a range of other people.
Ms Murray brought the idea to the media firm initially and planned to fundraise for it. However, they stepped in and offered to fully support it.
“A special thank you goes to Dave Smith and the entire team at Micro Media for making this possible and believing in our idea,” she said.
Mr Smith said in turn it was a privilege for the company to be so involved.
“It's so important to use our media in positive and transformative ways,” he said.
“When we met with Robyn, her commitment and enthusiasm to promote and ultimately change the narrative on Endometriosis was so compelling we literally had no option but to help.”
- Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent
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