The Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) has called for collaboration and robust regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Nigeria.
The president, Prof. Preye Fiebai, made the call on Thursday in Abuja, at the opening ceremony of the association’s 14th Annual International Conference.
The conference is themed “Collaboration for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): Global Best Practices in Nigeria”.
According to Fiebai, ART in Nigeria has made significant progress, but collaboration is the key to accelerating this progress.
“To elevate Nigeria’s ART sector to global standards, we must foster collaboration across multiple sectors.
“Reproductive health specialists in Nigeria must collaborate nationally and with international experts to share knowledge, skills and technological advancements.”
He said that ethical guidelines and remarkable advances have emerged from countries at the forefront of ART and that domestication of global best practices could shape the future of the field in Nigeria.
According to the president, robust frameworks for ART practices, research and regulation have been established in the said countries, including adherence to ethical standards to protect the rights and health of patients, donors and resulting offspring.
Fiebai emphasised that establishing clear and comprehensive regulatory frameworks was long overdue, stressing the need for robust legal frameworks to ensure transparent and well-defined protocols.
He said that Lagos State had set the ball rolling with establishing guidelines for ART practice in the state, a feat that should be replicated across the country.
He, however, said that the National Assembly had made several attempts to pass a law and all stakeholders in the sector must collaborate to make it a reality.
The president also advocated for research partnerships, Public-Private Partnerships and cultural and community engagements for traditional and religious leaders.
This, he said, was because understanding the cultural and societal nuances surrounding infertility in Nigeria was vital to building ART services that are not only medically effective but also socially acceptable.
Describing the important role ART plays, Fiebai said that it offered a pathway to fulfilling the dreams of parenthood for many couples experiencing infertility, especially at a time when fertility rates are declining worldwide.
He added that Nigeria had witnessed a growing demand for ART services due to increasing awareness and social acceptance.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, emphasised the necessity of collaboration, stating that the government cannot achieve its goals alone.
He highlighted the importance of sharing resources and risks to attain a common objective.
Sununu who was the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health Care Services in the 10th National Assembly, however, said that some medical practices required an Act of Parliament for proper guidance and protection.
“We need protection, we need to be guided. Certain litigations are left at the discretion of judges because there are no enabling laws and most of the times, practitioners are the ones who suffer.
“Our elders, they have done so much in training us, we need to also sit down and develop what we can do to protect our practice, to ensure that what we are doing is within the ethics of our profession.”
He also said that because the practice of ART was expensive, resources must be put together to make progress.
“The cost of practicing medicine has skyrocketed. Equipment that was once readily affordable now threatens to deplete our clinic’s resources. Even a single purchase would significantly strain our assets.
“There is a pressing need for a dedicated funding mechanism, such as a bank or fund that provides single-digit interest loans.
“While the Bank of Industry exists, we require a specialised institution catering exclusively to healthcare practitioners.
“Currently, we’re losing billions of dollars in foreign exchange due to Nigerians seeking medical care abroad.”
Speaking about the theme of the conference, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr Sunday Onuh, said that it underscored the practitioners’ relentless pursuit of excellence and collaboration in the field of ART.
“We stand on the threshold of revolutionary breakthroughs, and gatherings like this catalyse our collective progress toward achieving these ambitious goals.
“This year’s conference aims to promote ethical standards and regulate the practice of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), with a specific focus on third-party ART.”
The three-day conference which began on Wednesday will end on Friday.
NAN
