By Adeola Ogunlade
As part of the effort toward providing a support system for indigent couples and individuals facing fertility challenges, the Fertility Awareness Advocacy Initiative (FAAI), has rolled out its scheme to create awareness to drive fertility solutions across Nigeria.
The President of FAAI, Mr. Kesena Igben, said this at a virtual press conference held recently, stating that the initiative is poised to offer a safe space for individuals and couples struggling with infertility to connect, share experiences, and receive emotional support.
He said that infertility is a shared global challenge, and FAAI will raise awareness and educate the public about available treatment options, adding that this can help to dispel the common myths and misconceptions surrounding infertility.
“We organise symposiums, TV shows, and talks on the radio so that people will be aware of their fertility issues and join our association, and then we can show them the pathway to resolve some of their fertility issues”, he said.
The president lamented that in Nigeria, there are lots of superstitions. We are too spiritual. We should stop the process and make people aware. That is our goal; how to stop the process, how to make people aware, how people should or should not seek help, and how we can offer counseling to people through a counseling hub. If there is a hotline whereby you can call in, somebody’s there to attend to you, to listen to you.
He said “If information is going out regularly for people to be aware, and they know how to reach out to us, a time will come that we will be able to give solutions to so many families and bring joy to them. FAAI is currently harnessing in-house resources for a big drive for sponsorship to identify indigent couples that can be assisted to benefit from treatment so that they can have their joy”.
Igben added “That is our real focal point, and to do that, we need sponsors. We are planning to do our launch fair in Lagos here, and we also want to go to the religious houses to have pep talks and also to other areas within the community.
He further said that the environment and society are not making it easy for couples having fertility challenges to come out and seek help in the appropriate place. We are committed to bridging this gap.
Also speaking at the briefing, the FAAI Vice President. Mrs. Vivian Patrick, stated that the awareness drive was crucial, noting that the environment and society are not making it easy for couples having fertility challenges to come out and seek help in the appropriate place. We are committed to bridging this gap.
She said “FAAI fights for better access to fertility care and resources in Nigeria and was focused on lobbying the government for policy changes and raising funds to subsidize treatment costs.
FAAI Secretary, Mrs. Victoria Agubama, took a swipe at the myths circulating about assisted fertility programmes. “We need to break those myths. We are taking the bull by the horns. We are not waiting for people to look for a solution. We are hurting for them”.
She stressed many marriages have broken or couples have called it quit because of fertility issues. We want to see how we can curb it. The more knowledgeable the people are, the happier they will be.