By Chioma Obinna
With 3,000 children born through IVF at Bridge Clinic, Nigeria, fertility experts say there is no scientific evidence showing any difference between IVF children and others.
They also lamented the fragmented landscape of IVF in Nigeria, regretting that the practice remains unregulated.
Meanwhile, to enhance reproductive healthcare standards, the Bridge Clinic Nigeria played a host to a renowned embryologist, Dr. Marta Jansa Perez, the Director of Embryology at Bridge Clinic London.
Speaking during the visit, the Medical Director, Bridge Clinic Nigeria, Dr. Toyin Ajayi explained that children born through IVF have no health challenges or any issues.
Ajayi said there is definitely no evidence but a common misconception and myth as some of the babies produced by the centre are in the universities while some has done their master’s degree,- “absolutely intelligent.”
“A lot of people still don’t know about IVF, they still have fears. But IVF has been here since 2008 improving, and getting better. You’ll be amazed by Oge and Kosi, who have recently turned 24 years. They were our first IVF babies. We have been able to produce over 3,000 babies and still counting.”
Speaking on the visit of the Dr. Marta Jansa Perez, Ajayi explained that it was a testament to the partnership between the two clinics as it has opened new avenues for the exchange of expertise and resources, reinforcing the Clinic Nigeria’s commitment to excellence in reproductive healthcare..
She said Dr.Perez’s weeklong visit was structured around Training, Process and Quality Improvement, Research and Development, and guidance on best practices in clinical embryology.
According to her, one of the highlights of the visit was her active involvement with the laboratory team, working closely under the leadership of Lab Manager Rashidat Shatta.
“The collaborative efforts focused on hands-on training for embryologists, comprehensive reviews of the Quality Management System, and Laboratory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to enhance existing processes and identify areas for optimisation.”
She said Dr. Perez’s wealth of experience allowed her to provide invaluable insights into innovative practices, fostering excellence and efficiency in the laboratory.
“We firmly believe that this period of collaboration between Bridge Clinic Nigeria and Bridge Clinic London will yield positive outcomes, particularly in our laboratory-the core of IVF treatment. Not only will it improve the quality of care we provide to our clients and the results they achieve with us, but it will also foster a culture of continuous improvement within our organization,” Ajayi, stated.
She said with the ongoing forex crisis, the new collaboration has the potential of reversing medical tourism as Nigerians in the diaspora prefer to access IVF treatment back home once they have the assurance of quality care.
Speaking, the Managing Director, Bridge Clinic Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Ekhalume lamented that Invitro Fertilisation, IVF, remains largely unregulated in Nigeria, calling for policies for a better regulation.
“We are able to regulate ourselves. That is why we got our ISO certification. It is not required by any regulation in Nigeria that you have to satisfy but because we want to give the best of care to our people.
He said the Centre in 25 years has paid attention to details and maintain quality standards as the premier IVF clinic in Nigeria, obtained ISO certification and renewed the certificate for the 20th time early this year.
The duo of Ajayi and Ekhalume stressed the need for more regulation and more rules around IVF in Nigeria which they say the landscape is very fragmented.
Dr Perez advised Nigerians that there was no need to travel abroad for IVF treatment as whatever that is the London centre is also replicated in the Bridge Clinic, Nigeria.
Source: Vanguard