To spearhead advancement in assisted reproductive health education in Nigeria, the co-pioneer of In Vitro-Fertilization ( IVF) treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Professor Oladapo Ashiru, has established an Institute of Assisted Reproductive Health Technology.
The institute, which is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, is designed to reshape the assisted reproductive technology landscape in Nigeria and Africa by extension.
Speaking on the development, Prof Ashiru in a statement, said the institute would drive innovative research and training in infertility-related conditions, focusing on various assisted pregnancy procedures and techniques.
He disclosed that when the institute is in full operations, it would promote, among others, groundbreaking research knowledge in assisted reproductive health and deeper understanding on the root causes of infertility, and the advanced methods of diagnosis of this health condition, it prevention and treatment.Â
According to him, the institute will train specialists in various branches of reproductive technology with special focus on various assisted conceptions.
He said such trainings would lead to award of certificates in areas of trainees’ specialisations or award of master degree in assisted reproductive health technology in collaboration with universities.
He noted that the institute had a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka for collaboration on the training.
Prof Ashiru, who is also the President of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria(AMSN) and first black person to be elected as Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies(IFFS), a global organisation with an official relationship with WHO, said his desire is to continue to encourage and promote scientific breakthroughs in reproductive endocrinology-related fields not only in Nigeria but in Africa as a whole.
He said the institute would certainly stem the rush for overseas studies in Africa as Africans would no longer need to go to countries such as UK, Denmark, Spain, India and so forth before acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in this field of medicine.
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