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Fertility centre showcases 1,860 live births for 16-year work

By Wole Oyebade
07 May 2015   |   2:55 am
ASSISTED reproductive technology, popular called Invitro Fertilization (IVF), has assumed a new dimension in Nigeria. And if the words of experts are anything to go by, “no woman has a reason to be childless anymore.
UNILEVER

Acting Secretary General, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Comrade Thomas Shetima (left); National President, NANNM, Abdurafiu Adeniji; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nigeria PLC, David Okeme and Category Manager, Skin Care and Deodorant, Olumide Aniyikaiye, during signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Unilever Nigeria PLC, and NANNM in Lagos…last week.  

ASSISTED reproductive technology, popular called Invitro Fertilization (IVF), has assumed a new dimension in Nigeria. And if the words of experts are anything to go by, “no woman has a reason to be childless anymore.”

The Bridge Clinic made this statement recently, as they flaunt a record of 1,860 IVF live births. According to the fertility clinic, it was a reward of 16-years work in the laboratory and faith in God.

At a get-together party for families and their wards that have come through IVF — some of them already in the universities — it was demonstrated that assisted reproduction is real and the children quite normal.

It would be recalled that The Bridge Clinic started in 1999, with the goal of providing healthcare of international standard to couples who are having challenges with fertility.

A couple is infertile when there is difficulty with conception despite regular unprotected sexual intercourse of at least 12 months duration. The common causes, according to experts, are fallopian tube damage, ovarian problems, uterine anomalies and more common sperm problems.

Consultant Gynecologist, Dr Omotayo Abiara, observed that infertility affects one in every four to nine couples. And because of the high premium placed on childbearing, infertility is a major social and emotional problem, with attendant marital issues for the couples.

Abiara added that The Bridge Clinic took it head on to tackle this problem in the last 16 years, providing professional treatment and management of all causes of infertility with international standard and state of the art equipment. In year 2014, 47 per cent of their clients with ages less than 35 years got pregnant at their first attempt. It was only 20 per cent in 1999.

Omojoyegbe Eremibo is one of the success stories of 2014. After seven years of fruitless marriage, Eremibo was planning to have an IVF in India when they stumbled on The Bridge Clinic. Midway into the first trial at The Bridge, it was detected that her chances were slimmer due to her limited follicles.

“They wanted to stop it with a refund of some money already paid,” she said, “But I insisted to continue even if it only one follicle that I have.” “The follicle and sperm were collected, and they form my twins — Oluwapamilerinayo and Erioluwa Eremibo.

They (experts at the centre) will do their best but God always have the final say,” she said. Ukeria Kapajie had similar experience with IVF in 2000, after eight years of childlessness. Kapajie was prepared to have three cycles, but the first trial (2002) was the breakthrough. She tried another that produced a boy in 2004. “But I still wanted more.

I tried again but the cycle failed. Another trial produced twins in 2008. They were barely eight months old, when I started feeling funny, only to find that i’m pregnant naturally. I had the baby girl in 2008,” Kapajie said. Eremibo, Kapajie, Olubunmi Salako, Patricia Jibor, among others that testified could tell that they have the best of healthy children.

Chief Commercial Officer Bridge Clinic, Dr. Dayo Omogbehin explained their quality management system. “Because IVF is a medical procedure with its own risks, the quality management system assures that the risks are well managed so that you can have your treatment in the safest environment and in the safest hands.

There are systems in place to ensure monitoring of blastocyst formation rates, immature rates and best pregnancy rates.” “We have over 1860 live births to show for this. Our pregnancy rates are consistently above average,” Omogbehin said.

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