Dr Anita Sharma

Dr Anita Sharma has improved the health and lives of women within our borough and is now a national advocate for greater awareness around conditions such as endometriosis.

This is all the more laudable given that the women she represents are often disenfranchised, from disadvantaged communities, and sometimes face enormous prejudice. Born in India, Dr. Anita was a popular GP in South Chadderton where she also became a Greater Manchester campaigner on issues such as menopause, breast cancer, and period poverty. Typical of her compassionate and can-do attitude was when she formed the campaign Endometriosis Awareness North, after hearing about a woman who lost a career in teaching because of the physical and mental pain the condition produces. This woman felt nobody listened to her. Dr Anita changed all of that.

The campaign has since drawn international attention and given women everywhere, hope. All from a small team in Oldham and an inspired leader in Dr. Sharma! One of her other achievements has been to raise the profile of international medics coming to Britain through the British International Doctors Association. Without the support of people like Dr. Sharma, they would not have been able to settle into their roles here and make such a positive difference, saving lives. A valued contributor to other organisations including charities, Dr. Sharma has been an extraordinary voice for women in Oldham and deserves this recognition and our borough's most sincere thanks.