our reporter
The President of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Prof. Preye Fiebai, has raised concerns about the alarming trend of unqualified individuals providing fertility treatments in Nigeria.
He emphasized that nurses, while capable of assisting physicians, are not qualified to administer these treatments independently.
Fiebai’s statement is coming on the heels of the arraignment of a fake fertility nurse in Enugu State by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, who defrauded women about N28.2m.
The report highlighted how due to the increased demand for assisted reproductive techniques by persons who desire to have children, fertility clinics were springing up in cities at an alarming rate.
Although a report by the World Bank stated that the fertility rate in Nigeria stands at about 5.4 births per woman in 2018, indicating a high fertility rate, newer studies and reports have shown an increase in infertility rates.
The EFCC, in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, noted that the fake nurse, Blessing David-Agwa, criminal issues began on August 28 when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency handed her over to the anti-graft agency for investigation and possible prosecution after discovering that she had presented herself as a medical fertility nurse, thereby defrauding unsuspecting victims.
The fake nurse, who allegedly forged certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, used them to falsely present herself as a fertility nurse and defrauded over 45 innocent women.
The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018 further noted that about 25 per cent of married women in Nigeria are experiencing primary infertility, while 16 per cent are experiencing secondary infertility.
Fiebai advised persons seeking fertility treatment to ensure they verify the authenticity and qualifications of the professionals they intend to use before utilising their services.
He said, “I advise anyone in any field who is not qualified to offer services to the unsuspecting public not to do so. Unfortunately, the poor situation regarding law enforcement has made the country a lawless one. I would advise patients seeking fertility treatment to ensure that they verify the authenticity and qualification of all health professionals offering services before they utilise them.”