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Hospital commissions ultra-modern fertility centre
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has said that the university and the ABUAD Multi-System Hospital (AMSH) were not established for rich people alone.
Disabusing the minds of many with the false belief that the university and hospital offer their services at a very high cost, Babalola said they were not established to make a profit, but to provide quality education and healthcare to people at affordable costs.
The legal luminary made the remarks during the official commissioning of an ultra-modern fertility centre at the hospital in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
According to him, the fertility centre will offer services in the following areas: In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Egg and Sperm Freezing (Cryopreservation), Ovulation Induction and Monitoring.
Other areas include donor programmes (egg, sperm, embryo), surrogacy services, male fertility treatments, hormonal and genetic testing, counselling, and emotional support.
The senior advocate said that the fertility centre, equipped with state-of-the-art machines, was set up to combat childlessness among Nigerians and non-Nigerians at reasonable costs.
“A man who cannot produce a child is called Okobo while a woman who cannot produce a child is called Agan. Indeed, in the past, people used to stone a known Okobo or a known Agan. Effort was made by both Okobo and Agan to produce children by going to Babalawos (native doctors). It seems to me that, generally, man and woman want to have children.
“Today, we are commissioning the latest in the market of modern equipment to combat childlessness. In foreign countries, it is very expensive to make use of the In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) machine. I know that only a few Nigerians can afford the huge cost.
“However, ABUAD Multi-System Hospital is not built for rich people alone, as the hospital renders services at modest amounts. With the fertility centre, people no longer have to travel abroad before they can use the IVF machine. At an affordable cost, Nigerians and non-Nigerians can now use the IVF and other facilities at the hospital.
“ABUAD was established to provide quality education and healthcare. Visitors to the hospital are impressed with the quality equipment, without which the doctors would be left with nothing but to guess how to treat patients.
“I take this opportunity to inform the public that both ABUAD University and ABUAD Multi-System Hospital are not built for profit. I have heard people say that if you go to ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, they collect dollars even before seeing a patient. Those who have come to the hospital for treatment have debunked the falsehood. The fees charged in ABUAD University are lower than what most secondary schools charge in Lagos, Ibadan, Ilesa, Abuja, and so on.
“ABUAD Multi-System Hospital prides itself as the most well-equipped hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa. When Dr Johnson, the famous cardiologist from Cardiology 1 in Lagos, visited ABUAD in 2020, he said, ‘This is my first visit to Ekiti and the ABUAD hospital was my first stop. This is really impressive; I can say without any equivocation that this hospital has more high-tech medical equipment than all the hospitals in Lagos put together. This is most certainly the best-equipped hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa.’
“This fertility centre is for the promotion of good health for Nigerians and non-Nigerians. Our priority is not money. The health of the people is paramount to us. It is to ensure that people enjoy quality healthcare.”
In his speech, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of AMSH, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, said the fertility centre “is a landmark achievement in our mission to provide world-class healthcare to all.”
Ogundipe explained that the fertility centre is the latest addition to the many legacies of AMSH, reflecting its unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in Nigerian healthcare.
He also said that the fertility centre was opened in response to the yearnings of many people within and outside the country.
“Infertility is a significant challenge faced by millions of couples worldwide. It transcends cultures and demographics, often causing stress, emotional strain, and even health complications. For women, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse, with causes ranging from hormonal imbalances to structural anomalies and lifestyle factors.
“At AMSH, we understand these challenges, and we are here to provide solutions—both medical and emotional—for couples longing to experience the joy of parenthood.
“The stigma and emotional burden associated with infertility can often make couples feel isolated and hopeless. However, with advancements in medical technology and a supportive environment like the AMSH Fertility Centre, there is now a renewed sense of hope for those in need. This centre is a testament to our commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of our community and beyond.
“Our fertility centre is a response to a pressing need in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa for accessible, high-quality reproductive healthcare. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll infertility can take, and we are dedicated to alleviating these challenges.”
He said since the inception of AMSH in 2017, the 400-bed hospital, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and quality personnel, has “established itself as a beacon of innovation and excellence in healthcare.”
Ogundipe revealed that expectant mothers visit AMSH main hospital and annexes to enjoy free services, which started in October last year.
“We are proud to highlight our ongoing commitment to maternal and child health. Since 18 October 2024, when Afe Babalola Day was declared in Ado-Ekiti, AMSH has been offering free antenatal registration, consultations, antenatal investigations, and delivery services. These free services are available both at our main hospital and at our annexes, ensuring greater accessibility for expectant mothers in our community.
“We understand that the journey to parenthood can be challenging, but you do not have to face it alone. At AMSH, we are dedicated to turning your hopes into reality and helping you achieve the joy of parenthood.”