Introduction of fertility clinics welcomed
THE introduction of comprehensive reproductive health services including fertility clinics in all provinces will enhance reproductive health services in Zambia, says Zambia Association of Gynecology and Obstetricians publicity secretary Mutinta Muyuni.
In an interview, Dr Muyuni said it was particularly a welcome move for the Government of Zambia to introduce reproductive health services in all parts of the country to improve access to quality service in the health sector.
She was commenting on Minster of Health Chitalu Chilufya’s announcement that the Government has plans to introduce fertility clinics in all ten provinces of the country as part of enhanced reproductive health services in Zambia.
“This move is greatly appreciated and long overdue, and major step toward reducing the gap in access to specialised reproductive health services across Zambia.
“In addition, the efforts by the ministry and various other stakeholders toward comprehensive reproductive health services including those pertaining to infertility particularly that it is a challenge affecting many couples is very welcome,” Dr Muyuni said.
She explained that they were particularly delighted that the pronouncement comes with enhanced training for local medical personnel to specialise through scholarships provided under the Merk Scholarship as well as provision of support for appropriate infrastructure and technology to enhance specialists’ ply their trade in the field.
Dr Chilufya attending a conference of the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists focused on infertility and fistula care where he announced that the programme was planned to feed into the women and children specialist hospitals to be constructed with support from Saudi Arabia funding.
The Minister disclosed that two Zambian doctors have already been awarded scholarships to train under the Merck scholarships as fertility experts in India.
“In our relentless pursuit of universal health coverage, the PF government under His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will introduce fertility clinics in all the provinces as part of enhanced reproductive health services,” Dr Chilufya said
This was contained in a statement made available by MoH head communications & external relations Stanslous Ngosa, that Merck Foundation, a global humanitarian organization that partnered with the Zambian Government to train infertility experts and link the Ministry of Health to the network of stakeholders dealing with infertility equipment.