Wada Charges Fed Govt on Provision of More IVF Centers in Nigeria… As LiLy Hospital Throws Party for Its IVF Children

Tejiri Ebikeme/Francis Sadhere

The Federal Government of Nigerian has been charged on the need to provide more In Vitro Fertilization, IVF, centers in the country so as to help cushion the high cost of IVF procedure.

The Charge was given by Dr. Ibrahim Wada, Consultant Gynaecologist with Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuju, during the weekend in Warri at the Lily Fertility Center 1^st IVF children’s party held at lily Hospitals Limited, Warri, Delta State.

Dr. Wada, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that the Federal and State Governments can do a lot to bring down the prices of IVF procedures through the establishment of hospitals meant for this purpose, adding that government must partner with private individuals to achieve this aim.

According to Dr. Wada; “Partnership between the government and private individuals will help bring down a lot of overhead cost. Also, government should establish hospitals that have this kind of technology. This could help in the training of Nigerians from all works of life who will in turn take the technology back to their people in the grassroots. I want you to reflect on GSM technology. When it first came out it was not for the poor. So I believe that what happened to GSM would happen to IVF.

While explaining the reasons why the IVF procedures are expensive in most parts of the world, Dr. Wada said he believed that a lot can be done to bring the price down to the reach of the ordinary people on the streets.

He said; “The reason why the cost of this procedure is high is because it is a new technology. Nigeria is not manufacturing any of the equipment used in the technology yet. It is import dependent and you know what our naira is to the dollar. Also there is a lot of intensive training and retraining both locally and abroad. A lot of resources go into it. Another thing is the medications that are used; they are not your ordinary panadol. They are very expensive, but this does not mean that a lot cannot be done to bring the price down to the reach of the people.”

While lamenting that IVF awareness in Nigeria was very low, Dr. Wada stressed that Nigeria has the spread of technology that could enable them prevent many diseases through IVF, noting that sickle cell anemia could be prevented through IVF.

“Nigeria has the spread of technology that could enable them prevent many diseases through IVF; diseases such as sickle cell anemia, which is our own baby, can be prevented through IVF. For example, an AS wife and an AS husband do not have to be scared of having sickle cell babies anymore because this could be solved by using this IVF technology. There are many more benefits to be derived from IVF. All the glory must go to God because none of these is man-made but God-made. You can see the babies here in their hundreds and they are normal babies just like every other babies,” Dr. Wada said.

He added that the gathering in Warri had shown that, with a little help, young men who had seen what was happening in the  country, have continued to log onto the IVF technology and they have continued to work tirelessly to improve on the technology.

He said; “Nigeria is a country of hundreds of millions of people. It is not a one man show. So we started to train young people and encourage them to go into the field. Our gathering here in Warri shows that young Nigerians who saw what was happening logged on to it and with help in our own little way, they have continued to work tirelessly. Look at where we are today, almost two hundred babies and still counting. It is still the beginning and I can tell you that Nigeria has a success rate that is equal to successes in Europe and some other parts of the world.”

Speaking on the journey so far, Dr. Louis Alekwe, Consultant Gynaecologist, Lily Fertility Center, noted that the party was organized to provide opportunity for women and families to share their experiences with other.

He said that though it had been tough, Lily fertility Center started in 2008 with four cycles which produced two pregnancies and live births, adding that since then it had not looked back as they have done 748 cycles, 186 babies already born with so many ongoing pregnancies.

While stressing that there was need for greater awareness about IVF, Dr. Alekwe noted that the anticipated gains from the children’s party was to demystify IVF and encourage those who are still suffering in silence and wallowing in ignorance to come forward for help.

He said; “There are questions like; Is it true? Are the babies normal? Can I carry the pregnancy and do my job? The evidence is here before us. If we consider the fact that the two commonest causes of infertility in our environment today are tubal factor and male factor and the proven effective treatment for this is assisted conception.”

Dr. Alekwe explained that IVF gives couples who have been written off, a chance to have their own biological children, saying that with the advent of IVF there is basically no reason why any couple should not have children of their own as IVF offers hope to everybody.

“We pride ourselves on providing an ethical and successful service, centered on protecting the health and welfare of both mother and child. This journey started a long time ago with a dream and passion even when the means of actualization was not in sight (where there is a will there is a way).” He added.

He said further that; “In years past, we had a problem where sperm and egg will not meet naturally and then we were very helpless until the advent of IVF. And Dr. Wada, was one of the pioneers of this method in Nigeria, who we came in contact with and obtain training from him and in 2008, has helped us to establish a center here in Warri and the result is what you are seeing all over the places.”

“Over the years we have had a 35% rate of success of IVF and what that means is that it is not everyone that comes to us that will have a baby, you may have to do more than one procedure to be successful. So all the ones we have done, we have 190 babies and we have over 50 pregnancies as we are talking now. This procedure gives couple who have been written off, a chance to have their own biological children. With the advent of IVF there is basically no reason why any couple should not have children of their own. It offers hope to everybody. Once these pregnancies are established, it is like every other pregnancy. Some of them even have a very high level of intelligent. Dr. Ibrahim Wada runs a by Hanatu foundation and that girl is wonderful. The method of delivery is just like every other delivery. You can have a normal or cesarean delivery depending on your situation,” he said.

Also speaking to our correspondent, Dr. Gabriel Igberase, Shepherd Hospital And Fertility Center, said; “IVF was introduced in Nigeria in the late 80s and for us to have an IVF center here in Warri is worth celebrating. You know we have a lot of infertility problem here in Nigeria and we see a lot of couples who need help and IVF is like the last bus stop for common infertile couple. So it is worth celebrating especially when we have plenty of results and many babies. The evidence is so loud and clear and tangible. So it is worth celebrating.

He advised Nigerians to avail themselves of the IVF technology, saying that; “most IVF babies that I have seen are even more intelligent than non-IVF babies and they are more beautiful too. What is going to affect the normal population will also affect them. So most IVF babies are delivered in the normal way and there is no abnormality in them. In fact the first IVF baby Louis Brown that was born in 1978 had her first normal baby not through IVF.”

The parents and children were treated with beautiful music which they all danced to. They children all went home with beautiful gift items, courtesy of Lily Fertility Center.

Most of the parents who spoke to our correspondent, thanked the management and staff of Lily Fertility Center for assisting them have their own biological children, just as they called on Nigerians to avail themselves to the new technology in Nigeria.