MWAN Lagos host maiden fertility summit

• advance holistic solutions for infertility

The President of Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) Professor Preye Fiebai has counseled Nigerians grappling with infertility to seek quality care and not give in to stigmatization.

Prof. Fiebai gave this charge as the keynote speaker at the maiden edition of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria Lagos (MWAN) Fertility summit theme:The Fertility Journey Past,Present and Future, held on Thursday at MRC Auditorium LASUCOM,Ikeja Lagos.

“There is hope for anyone who is experiencing challenges with fertility, regardless of what the cause is, if you are properly assessed in the long run, you are most likely going to get a solution.

“So my advice is see the right practitioner. The normal thing is you could see a general practitioner, and if they assess you and think that your situation is not improving, they will normally refer you to a gynecologist.

“If the gynecologist manages you and is unable to make headway, the ideal thing is to refer you to the specialist.

“So we have fertility specialists, reproductive endocrinologists and such, who are highly specialized in doing these things.

Prof. Fiebai however, hinted that adoption is also a treatment that can address the issue of infertility but urged that the system be made more seamless for those who opt for it.

“Treatment also involves other aspects, such as adoption, and there are situations where adoption may be necessary. There’s nothing wrong with adoption, but stigma also comes with that.

“So we also need to educate ourselves and educate the people. Many people who are seeking adoption also face challenges because of the legal systems.

“You know going through legitimate ways of getting adoption could be a challenge. So we need to streamline things and make things easy for the people.

The medical expert stressed the importance of awareness and adequate education for infertility patients adding that trado medical practitioners are not really helping the situation.

“Now, trado medical care is not within my own sphere. Those I have seen who have sought such care are mostly harmed by such care. For example, they insert caustic materials into the vagina to try to treat infertility.

“By the time the woman comes to the hospital, the vagina is closed off by such material. So how can you collaborate?

“The traditional medical practitioners need to be educated that their practice is not solving any problem.

“But you know, we have a society where we believe in superstition, and our traditional practices are ingrained in us. So no matter what you say, some people would still stick to it.

“Regardless, education would solve many of these problems, and we need a literate society that is aware of what the right thing should be. So regulation of such practice is key.

“I know the medical and dental Council regulates traditional medical practice also, and if it is properly done, there are some safe things that they may be practicing otherwise, I’m sure such regulation will not be there.”

For Dr. Funmi Ige President MWAN Lagos nobody needs to be stigmatized for not having Children as they desired, she harped on the need for a support system as the main reason for the initiative.

“Nobody needs to be stigmatized for not having children as they desire.

“There are factors that are responsible b y the time we finish, people will be  informed, with better awareness that it’s not their choice, it’s not what they have done or not done that has brought it upon them, and then be able to support them, and that’s part of one of our objectives.

“To create an enabling environment, a support community, that can support these families and individuals that are passing through this challenge is a matter of time, and is a phase it will pass.

“The message for families undergoing this challenge is to say, there is hope. Yes, there is the element of the divine in everything. And as humans, we would want to do our best.

“What everyone is doing is to create this environment for them, to get information, to assess quality care.

“Our experts are there. We have a lot of them here, and part of what we have put together is one on one conversation with experts in this field, and then they will take it up from there after this gathering.

“So for them, I would say there is hope they should not give up. They should eschew going to quacks. They should go to qualified, trained professionals who will offer them quality healthcare.

“The matter of universal health coverage is very important, and that’s also another objective of this summit.

“We people in this category need to be captured. Health is available for them, and they also need to be captured.

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“So we will invite people to ensure that you engage the services of qualified healthcare professionals so that they will enjoy quality healthcare and service delivery.”

One of the partners of MWAN fertility summit, Dr. Kunle Ajayi the Medical Director Clearview Hospital Lagos hinted that one out of every six couples would experience fertility issues.

“Some of the causes of infertility are not natural, there are some things that can make you go infertile but are not natural, someone who has cancer needs chemotherapy so, it is not every time that infertility has a natural cause.

“85 percent of couples would achieve pregnancy whether you do something about it or not, if you have 100 couples 85 percent of them will achieve pregnancy, so it is only the 15 percent that you try to manage so that they can also get pregnant, so whether you do anything or not the body get to cured naturally.

“For people struggling with infertility, you should go to the right place for care, there are so many things people put on social media, saying once you take or drink this you get pregnant in a matter of three months, fibroid will shrink and all that, many of which you don’t even know what you are drinking.

“My advice is to get a qualified Doctor not necessarily at Clearview Hospital, even LASUTH here you have good hands, it might take time but I am sure you will get better care.”

The Local Organizing Committee Chairman for the fertility summit Dr. Joy Onyinyechi Chionuma the Chairman MDCAN LASUTH was quick to add that the summit was made free for all participants, so as to encourage many to attend given the importance of the issue being discussed.

She added that it affords members and the general public who are experiencing the fertility challenge to get information and opportunity for better healthcare.

Many panel sessions which made the summit an interactive one, featured experts given hands-on tips on issues and likely solutions for couples battling infertility.