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Jacqueline
Veit, co-founder and president of Associazione
Italiana Endometriosi
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ROME,
18 October 2005: The Italian Endometriosis Association
states their case to the Italian Senate.
On invitation from the Italian
Hygiene and Health Commission, Jacqueline Veit
co-founder/president of the Italian Endometriosis
Association (Associazione Italiana Endometriosi)
and co-coordinator of the European Endometriosis
Alliance (EEA) was received at the Senate for
an audience as part of the investigation currently
underway on the issue of endometriosis as a
social disease.
During her incisive
speech entitled “Endometriosis: impact,
costs and quality of life” Veit highlighted
that endometriosis affects all of us and should
no longer be treated as an insignificant issue.
She stated that work needs to be done to provide:
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• Recognition of endometriosis as a significant
healthcare concern and chronic disease;
• Government support of awareness-raising activities,
including information campaigns targeting the public,
health professionals, and legislators;
• Inclusion of prevention of endometriosis in
school sexual health programmes;
• Centres of excellence that would work in synergy
with local centres;
• More basic research into the cause, prevention
and treatment of endometriosis.
She also called on the legislators to:
• Formally recognise the second week in March
as Endometriosis Awareness Week;
• Support requests for economic support to help
women and their families to cover health expenses.
"Those like myself who live with endometriosis
know all too well the difficulties we have to face and
the negative impact it can have on our lives. It is
unacceptable that despite being one of the most prevalent
causes of chronic pain in today's society, apart from
those affected and their families, awareness is still
severely lacking” stated Veit, who went on to
say: “This invitation to speak to the senators
of the Commission is extremely positive as it means
that finally, after 6 years of hard work, the importance
of our campaign is being recognised. Safeguarding women’s
health and preserving the fertility of future generations
is not only our moral duty but would also mean long
term financial gain for the national economy which would
benefit all of us.”
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