As more successes are recorded in the rate of In Vitro-Fertilisation (IVF) procedures performed in Nigeria, Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) practitioners in the country have vowed to protect the industry from quackery and unethical practices.
The fertility experts who made the vow at the 8th Annual International Conference of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) in Lagos tagged, “New Frontiers in ART” , revealed that tough times await fake and unprofessional practitioners in the industry as the association, in collaboration with the Lagos State government is set to deal with them.
According to the experts, the number of IVF clinics in Nigeria is close to 70, while the total number in Africa is near 160.
In his remarks, Medical Director /Chief Executive Officer, Medical Art Centre ( MART Clinics) , Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, said these figures were clear indication that Nigeria is now recognised worldwide as a part of ART, adding that virtually 95 per cent of IVF cases are treated in Nigeria by Nigerians.
“It is about making sure we give the patients what they want, making sure we protect our industry because there are more IVF centres opening”
Ashiru said a team of experts raised by the World Health Organisation ( WHO) had developed Fertility Guidelines especially on the practice of IVF/ ARTs in Africa, stressing that the practice needed to be regulated in Nigeria in order to give fertility-challenged couples better services.
Experts say in an age of advances in reproductive medicine, many solutions are offered to couples going through infertility, hence, the need for regulation.
However, evidence shows that currently in Nigeria, there is no law that regulates the fertility clinics that are in place even as the demand for fertility services is growing daily due to technology.
Available statistics show that one out of six couples will experience infertility.
To further address the problem of quackery in the profession, President of AFRH, Dr. Faye Iketubosin, calls for the coming together of all IVF centres in Nigeria to check unethical practices and abuse within the industry.
“It is about making sure we give the patients what they want, making sure we protect our industry because there are more IVF centres opening”, he said.
Iketubosin said the AFRH, which is the umbrella body for the practice and regulation of ART in the country is committed to creating awareness about reproductive health services in Nigeria, Africa and globally through implementing programmes for improving sexual and reproductive healthcare and support.
Also speaking, Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre , Lagos , Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, said the AFRH in collaboration with governmental authorities would provide a robust and acceptable standard/ code of practice policy documents , periodic public/stakeholders ’ consultations, and periodic revision of the practice code in line with cutting- edge researches , societal norms and aspirations largely to meet patients and societal expectations.
