Following the massive flag-off of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off in Jos the Plateau State capital which boosted that of other states, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has said from all indication, the party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu is already the president of Nigeria in waiting.
Sylva who spoke with newsmen on the impact of the huge turnout at the rally in Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos said undoubtedly the outing and the activities that transpired willl positively stimulate the party’s chances in the coming election.
He stressed that Tinubu’s antecedents in Lagos and his role as a national and party leader has been so robust resourceful that he has made meaningful impact in the country and in the lives of many.
Sylva said the likes of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and that of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, are not not a match for Tinubu because they really don’t have anything to offer.
He further said the APC has made strong inroads into the South South region of the country (where he, Sylva, hailed from) and that they are going to spring surprises for the party from that region.
He said Tinubu is currently largely being accepted in the South-South and that it would be a mistake on anyone’s part to think that Tinubu has minimal strength/acceptance in that region, as such persons would be shocked come 2023.
Meanwhile, the The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has hailed Sylvia for his pragmatic approach to the a better petroleum growth, adding that his attendance at the rally added much colour to the occasion.
Controller of NMDPRA Jos Field Office, Abdulsalam Mohammed, who commended the Minister also added that they have taken good care that the issue of fuel scarcity and hoarding will be squarely tackled.
He said they will ensure that motorists and other fuel users don’t suffer untold and unavoidable hardship relating to petroleum use/issues.
The President and Founder of Evangelical Bible Out Reach International (EBOMI) Prophet Isa El-Buba has advised Northern leaders to be honest and strive to work towards healing of wounds among the aggrieved persons in the Region.
El-Buba in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Jos, declared that he has respect for traditional Institutions in the North and the Political stakeholders in the Region and the country as a whole. . He however added the people of the North deserves good good leadership.
El-Buba who stated this in Jos on Friday while reacting to a Press conference by a group called “League of National Patriots” led by it’s Secretary general Sanusi Mohammad who alleged that he was spotted in a recent Video making allegations against Emir of Wase Alhaji Mohammad Sambo Haruna, Atiku Abubakar PDP Presidencial candidate and un named Ex CBN Governor from the North, said the group misquoted him in their allegations.
According to him, what the handlers of League of National Patriots were holding against him was on a matter he discussed at a fora that was recently held at EBOMI Headquarters which was doctored by mischief makers.
He alleged that the mischief makers inserted the picture of Shettima,the former Governor of Borno state and presently the running mate of Tinubu for the 2023 Presidencial election in the said Video.
He said'” it is not a hidden thing that Atiku Abubakar is one of the backers of Miyetti Allah Cattle breeders in Nigeria and that some of the events that are happening in the North, some northern forces have a hand in it”
The fire brand Christian Cleric alleged that certain meetings was held in Sokoto some years ago during which some northern Emirs and leaders worried by the ugly developments had course to accuse some of their colleagues of fraternizing with killer headers and Bokoharam elements that have turned the North into killer field .
He added that punch Newspapers of 2018 edition had one of its front page publication tittled “Atiku Is Miyetti Allah’s Chief Financier , Says Unongo,NEF Chairman”.
El-BubaSaid whatever he was claimed to have said in the video could be backed with facts .
He added that the North has been at the center of denial for too long, yet events that are happening in Zamfara state, some traditional rulers have been removed or suspended from office as they were fingered in having hands in the armed banditry that are going on in that state.
He accused some northern elements of being behind what is going on in the North especially with the killer headers, saying” I will not support anything evil as I’m a defender of truth, defender of Justice and the defenceless and not under any paymaster as alleged by the so called League of National Patriots”
He also alleged that activities of few bad eggs have dented the image of Fulanis in the country as certain individuals are using Fulani herders to push forward their own agenda which is destabilizing the country.
El-Buba added that he is one of the most peaceful Christian Clerics in Nigeria by the grace of God that cameb from a Muslim background.
The founder of EBOMI and IBBN added that he has nothing against Emir of Wase as a person and challenged the League of National Patriots to take legal action against him if they do Wish as he has certain documents to buttress his claims on the ugly happening in the North.
Spokesman of Plateau All Progressive Congress (APC) Hon Sylvanus Namang has tongue lashed those accusing him of not protecting Plateau heritage of lack of exposure to happenings in other parts of Nigeria in their life time.
Namang who stated this at his Rayfield residence Jos in an interview with newsmen after Church Thanksgiving service to mark his 40th wedding anniversary, said in the course of serving as Editor of the Nigerian Standard Newspapers under the Military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, he was arrested and detained at Dodan Barracks because of editorial comments in the Nigerian Standard on Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).
Namang said he was removed as Editor of Standard Newspapers after serving as Editor for 2 months and returned to his position as Editor of the same Newspaper after six months .
According to him, working as a Journalist and Editor under Military regime those days was very challenging and tasking because of the experience they went through in detention at Police stations and military facility .
According to Namang, he has seen it all, having worked with late Chief Solomon Lar and late Deputy Senate President Senator Ibrahim Mantu as their Chief Press secretary at different times in history under the 4th Republic in Nigeria.
Namang added that he is happy that after his retirement from Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as Director during which he served as General Manager of Lafia FM Radio for 4 years, he became the spokesman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in his home state of Plateau. . According to him, what he is doing presently in his state is to defend the interest of his party to the best of ability as a professional Journalist and could have done same for Peoples Democratic party if he is the spokesman of the main opposition party on the Plateau.
Namang Commended his wife for being there for him these 40 years of their marriage which is blessed with children that have all become graduates and married to their loved ones.
He added that what has seen him through in life is contentment with what God has blessed him with and must be grateful to God for His blessings.
The Labor party Governorship candidate in Plateau state Dr Patrick Dakum has launched his launched his Càmpaign flag off at Làngtang North LGA Mini Stadium which recorded massive crowd of party faithfuls from 17 LGAs Of Plateau state.
Dr Dakum,a former Commissioner of Health and Information in Plateau state told his party faithfuls that gathered at Làngtang North mini Stadium that they should vote overwhelmingly for him to become the next Governor of the state, promising that he has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the people of his state.
Dakum who was overwhelmed with huge turn out of his party supporters at the mini Stadium to grace the flag Off of his Governorship Càmpaign in his state, said his emergence as the Labor party Governorship candidate in Plateau state alongside his running mate Edward Pwajok SAN has sent fears into the heart of those in power in his state as it has become clear to them that the people of Plateau have embraced labour party as a party that would take them out of the current reality on the Plateau.
According to him, Peter Obi Presidency have alot of benefits to the people of Plateau State state than the government of any other political party, be it APC or PDP in the country. Dr Dakum hinted that in his recent meeting with his Presidential candidate Peter Obi, they had useful discussion on the need to set up fertilizer blending Plants in the 3 Senatorial districts in the state to boost agricultural activities on the Plateau and as well as turning the state into tourism destination in Nigeria.
He called on the people of his state to vote overwhelmingly for Peter Obi to become the next President of this country come 2023 to put an end to the security challenges in the state and other states of the country.
Dr Dakum also called on the voters on the Plateau to him and his running mate Edward Pwajok SAN their drivers that will take them forward on the Plateau.
The Plateau Labor Governorship candidate also promised to build world class Hospitals in the state with the state of the art Hospital equipments, saying the current existing state Hospitals in his state have become mere consulting clinics. Earlier, Dakum running mate Edward Pwajok SAN told the gathering of Labor party faithfuls at the flag off rally that APC did to the people of Plateau and Nigeria 419 in the last seven and half years and as such the people should exercise their democratic right to vote out the ruling APC government from power.
Similarly the Plateau state Chairperson of the party comrade Grace Zamfara, Director General Dakum/Pwajok Campo council Hon Joel Gwatau and the state Director Peter Obi Presidencial Càmpaign Nazing Bako all Promised to embark on aggressive Càmpaigns in the state to win the state for Obi, Dakum and other party candidates contesting the 2023 general elections under Labor party platform in the state.
The Executive Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has flagged off the 2022 Christian Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan on Friday 16th December, 2022 in Enugu.
Addressing the intending pilgrims during the orientation programme organized by the Mobilization Department of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission and the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Governor thanked the leadership of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission for chosing the state for the inaugural airlift of the December 2022 pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan.
He pointed out that his administration has been consistent in the sponsorship of christian pilgrims to the Holy land.
According to him,” every year christians in our state are sponsored on pilgrimage irrespective of their denominations “.
He added,” today, 300 pilgrims would be airlifted to Israel and Jordan “.
Governor Ugwuanyi tasked the intending pilgrims on zero abscondment during pilgrimage.
He urged them to exhibit high sense of decency and decorum while in the Holy land.
He further charged them to ensure they pray for God,s intervention in the affairs of Nigeria and for smooth transition of a new Government in Nigeria in 2023.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam stated that Enugu had made history for being the first to be airlifted in this year,s December pilgrimage.
The NCPC helmsman commended His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his dedication of faith for his people.
He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the commencement of the Pilgrimage and for his continued support for Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria.
In the same vein, the NCPC boss also applauded the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha for his support and guidance.
Rev Pam hinted that this year,s December pilgrimage exercise is mainly the states affairs.
He admonished the intending pilgrims not to think of absconding in the holy land . His words,” I want all of you to come back safely the way you went”.
Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Defence Senator Istifanus Dung Gyang has commissioned thirty eight (38) houses he built in conjuction with the Operations Save Haven, Jong community stakeholders, Berom Youth Movement for resettlement of Jong IDPs in Ropp District of Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.
Senaty. Gyang provided roofing materials, doors, windows, cement, and plastering of all the houses and grains for return of the displaced persons while commissioning the rebuilt houses alongside the commander Operation Safe Haven, Major. General. Ibrahim Ali.
Senator Gyang admonished Traditional Rulers and the benefitting community that violence is not an option of settling grievances.
Gyang who is representing the People of Plateau North Senatorial district at National Assembly, appreciated God for making peace possible in his country home of Barkin-Ladi LGA and Commended the Operation Safe Haven for playing commendable role in facilitating peace in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state.
“Today is a day of history because the opportunity that God gave me to represent the people of Plateau North at the National Assembly has mandated one of the most passionate desires of my heart which is the return of Peace to this constituency and indeed Plateau even as we yearn for Peace in the entirety of Nigeria and as part of that Peace Agenda, we have been pushing for the return of all our displaced persons, people that were displaced by violence attacks back to their ancestral homes.
“The Peace process engaged the stakeholders in conjuction with the very commendable role played by Operation Safe Haven in facilitating Peace in this particular community and we went ahead to reconstruct Jong village starting with 38 family Housing units today in conjunction with Operation Haven we had the privilege and honor to get all returnees back to their ancestral homes, quite a delight and demonstration of the fact that Peace is indeed being consolidated on the Plateau.
“And next to that is my ensuring that the community have access to health facility and follow with constructing of a Prinary Health Care Cenrre which I also commission today”.
Senator Gyang handed over the commissioned Clinic at Lobiring,a neighboring community to Jong in Ropp District to the Local Government to ensure that issues of health of the people is taken care of.
“This peace that has come is priceless, let us not resort to violence as a way of resolving our disputes. Violence should never be an opinion to resolving disputes, anytime you have an issue, dialogue is a platform to which you can always resolve your issues peacefully.” he advised
Other projects commissioned by Senator Gyang includes, Power Transformer for upgraded power supply at Gassa, Ropp District and a befiting modern Town Hall, Heipang .
Gyang disclosed that more projects would be Commissioned across the six local governments of Plateau North at subsequent dates.
On his part the GOC 3rd Div. and Commander OPSH General IS Ali expressed delight over the cooperation of the aggrieved persons that led to the resettlement of the displaced community and said this was a major event that culminated to the return of IDPs in Plateau 20 years after the Jos crisis.
The Commander, who commissioned a motorized borehole, provide solar light and stationed security personnel to protect the people of the community, noted that the unfortunate incident that led to the displacement of the Jong community in 2015 has been addressed with the involvement of critical stakeholders in the land.
“This occasion is quite unique as it will give us the opportunity to examine the important roles Operation SAFE HAVEN played in assisting displaced communities resettle back to their ancestral lands and further inform everyone what must be done to prevent such occurrence from happening again.
Commander Sector 4 Col. Murtala Abdulsalam, who provided security for the rebuilding of the destroyed community, expressed joy on the return of Jong people to their ancestral land who left desolate during the 2015 and 2018 crises that left the people scattered in several IDPs camps with some squatting with family members and friends under harsh condition.
The Ward head of Jong, Da. Alexander Pam on his part,said the community which was attacked on 19 May, 2015 had about 122 household with a population of over 689 persons that were displaced by unknown gunmen.
He said the community had made several effort to rebuild the community without head way until the miraculous posting of Col. M.D Abdulsalam as Commander Sector 4 who gave us hope and provided security for the rebuilding and safe returned of the community members.
He also eulogised Senator Gyang for the enormous work in rebuilding Jong village along with the Berom Youth Movement.
“So far, 38 households now have habitat and houses and more are still making efforts to rebuild their ravished homes.”
The community presented titles of honour on Colonel Abdulsalam as “Da Chomo Jong” the Warrior of Jong, the Commander, Gen. Ali was honoured with tittle of Da San Ntyang Chong (Man of Peace) and Senator Gyang “Da Sogwo Pomo” Jong as the man who build Jong community during the event.
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau state has denied allegation made against it by the PDP in the state, alleging that Plateau APC is destroying its billboards, barely two days after presidential campaign rally it hosted in Jos.
Spokesman of Plateau APC Sylvanus Namang in a statement in Jos on Friday which he made available to Oracle Reporters in Jos,,said the allegation should be treated as a mere cover up by PDP in order to appease its presidential candidate and members of his campaign council who went back most disappointed due to the so many lapses in the rally accentuated by its ever unending intra parry feud.
According to Namang,” Though the APC in the state which is ruling party, willingly granted them the use of the Rwang Pam Township Stadium against the wish of some PDP chieftains who are incurable faultfinders and who would have loved to blame the APC for not approving its use, it is a well known fact that the PDP has a penchant for pulling down APC’s billboards, posters and flexes around Jos and its environs.'”
Namang alleged that in particular ” they have either removed or destroyed our billboards at Heipang, Maraban Jama’a, Anguldi, D.B. Zang Junction , Dadin Kowa, Hwolshe and Secretariat Junction just to mention but a few but we have shown great restraints by not allowing our supporters to behave like them.”
He stressed that as they await the outcome of the police investigation of the so – called APC members it allegedly handed over to them and without preempting the outcome of the investigation, we would not be surprised if at the end, such arrested persons turn out to be members of one of the many PDP factions in the state.
” In any case, how can the APC whose campaigns are anchored on issues, be worried about the PDP whose existence is more on social media as confirmed by its inability to organise just a one day rally which only succeeded in exposing its lack of unity in the state.”
“What happened that Dara, the hitherto sole owner of the PDP in the state who singlehandedly put in place all its structures was conspicuously absent at the rally as he put paid to his assurance of not having anything to do with Atiku its presidential candidate who has been a beneficiary of rotational policy which made him served as Vice President for eight years.”
Namang added that ” Dara has a point here and all lovers of democracy and politics of national unity should support him on this. Look at the gaffe in the party’s visit to the JNI secretariat in Jos where you had more non Muslims at the Secretariat than the actual target audience as most of the key officials shunned the PDP presidential candidate which is a clear rejection of the PDP in the state.”
Namang alleged that PDP had shoddy flight arrangements which went against the NCAA flight regulations of not flying the Jos Airport at night.
“With all these, the PDP has the temerity to accuse the APC over its own undoing of itself”
“We do not blame them for saying that their presidential rally witnessed unprecedented crowd. This is so as they have for the past eight years been in the doldrums and do not know how a crowd, moreso a presidential rally crowd, looks like.”
According to Namang, it would have been better for the party to receive at its party secretariat or one hall in Jos its presidential candidate who has squandered his goodwill by being a serial presidential contestant who has broken all norms than at an open space as the stadium which clearly exposed its barrenness. “
He alleged that the turn out of party faithfuls on the Plateau at the Jos Rwang Pam stadium left the presidential candidate more devastated.
“This impressionistic display of outright falsehood by the PDP would not change what the PDP in Plateau state represents, a party in search of all it has lost over the years through its internal contradictions.”
According to Namang, APC will remain focused campaigning to retain power at the national and state levels which no amount of distraction will stop the moving train.
The Plateau North Senatorial candidate on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Barr Gyang ZI has offered free medical services and potable drinking water to the people of Fan District of the Barkinladi LGA of Plateau State.
Barr Zi while providing these services to the community, said he chose to touch the lives of people of Fan district because of his belief that the essence of human existence is to live in good health and have the basic needs of life, food, water, security and shelter.
The Senatorial hopeful noted that health is wealth, stressing that many Nigerians today live in abject poverty and do not have access to the basic amenities which is to be provided by the Government.
He also maintained that what he has done for the people of Fan district is one of his numerous interventions to so many communities across Plateau State, adding that he was moved by the constant Health challenges of the communities in Fan and their inability to get medical attention.
According to him, to remedy the health challenges in the FAN community, he decided to his resources together with a team of medical personnel and stormed the area to offer them Free medical services.
” The high rate of typhoid in the area as a result of lack of Portable Drinking Water was the major Health challenge, I decided to tackle together with my team.”
He added that Free medical diagnoses were carried out, treatment and drugs were administered to the people alongside the provision of water guards for the treatment of their drinking water and several other medical interventions.
The Community Leaders who expressed their joy over free medical services said they have heard of the numerous acts of kindness done by Barr Zi and hoped that if given a bigger responsibility, he will do more for them.
They pledged their full support for Zi in his political aspiration come 2023.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN 19th Northern states and FCT , Rev Dr Yakubu Pam who is currently the Executive secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission has declared that the unity of the North and Nigeria as a whole is the major concern of the Northern Christians as far as the 2023 general election is concerned .
Pam made the position of Northern Christians known during a three day Prayer Summit organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN 19 Northern states and FCT. held at the Catholic Social Centre , Kaduna.
He explained that,” the unity of the North guarantees inter- faith harmony and peaceful co-existence and that should be the pride of the north regardless of our political leanings and affiliations “. Pam stressed.
The Northern CAN Chairman commended the leading presidential candidates for traversing the length and breathe of the country canvassing for votes from the electorates.
He urged them to set their eyes on the ball by being focus and not be distracted. Pam advised
Pam advised the Presidential candidates ty strive to address the issues of the economy and proffer solutions rather than embarking on campaign of calumny and character assassination of their opponents. “ He cautioned that the Presidential candidates should not see the 2023 general election as a do or die affair, because power only comes from God .
The Northern CAN leader l admonishes religious leaders to stand firm in the face of intimidation in this era of electioneering process.
Pam affirmed,” We should be able to speak truth to power no matter the circumstances we find ourselves because everyone we mislead, we must answer for it someday before God ,” he stressed.
Some Presidential candidates were billed to address the Northern CAN officials on their manifestos and blueprint for the christians in the North at the summit. . Highlights of the Northern CAN Prayer Summit was the presentation of awards to some deserving Christian leaders in the country that have contributed immensely to humanity.
Prominent among the awardees is the former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr Andrew Yakubu.
The CAN Prayer Summit was attended by the Chairmen and Secretaries of the 19 Northern states including FCT. .
Reproductive Technology Addresses Infertility In Couples – Dr Egwuda
Dr Kenneth Egwuda is the consultant and founder of Gynaeville-ALPS AND Diagnostic specialist Hospital Jos.Egwuda, one of the pioneers of IVF test tube baby technology in Plateau state had a world record of making a 63-years-old African woman pregnant through IVF assisted reproductive technology in Jos. Dr. Egwuda in this interview withAttai AUDU Managing Editor Oracle Reporters bares his mind on how age of Woman could no longer be a barrier to making her pregnant through IVF assisted reproduction technology. Excerpts:
Why should Nigerians believe in IVF assisted reproductive technology in raising children whenever the traditional approach of making Woman pregnant fails?
By the grace of God I was the Pioneer of IVF test tube baby technology in Jos and the doctor to the oldest African woman who got pregnant by assisted reproductive technology (IVF).
IVF means a technology that enables the gynecologist, or scientist to treat infertile couples. In this form of treatment, the egg is gotten from a woman and the sperm from the man and fertilised outside the womb, in a test tube after which the fertilised egg is transferred into the womb of the mother and she is able to achieve pregnancy by this means.
IVF is recommended for the following reasons; blocked fallopian tubes, advanced female age where there are no viable eggs, treatment of genetic diseases, low sperm count, infertility of undetermined causes etc.
How do you rate the success of the IVF technology since it came to Nigeria?
The IVF became officially known in Nigeria in 1998 and that same year, the first IVF baby in Nigeria was delivered and then two years ago here in Jos, the world recorded the oldest IVF mother in Africa.
That is the first-time mom gave birth at the age of 63. The delivery was witnessed by the Plateau State commissioner of health. The baby, a girl became two years on May 8 this year.
You know, what we have noticed is, that IVF has developed in Nigeria so rapidly. It was predominant in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt before now, but some of us who got our training partly in Nigeria, UK, Germany, Italy and India have decided to move into the deeper parts of Nigeria. That was why I was able to pioneer IVF in Jos and Kano state.
Talking about the success, when IVF started initially, it took several attempts to achieve the first success which was the birth of Louise Brown, delivered in 1978. You know, what we noticed is that technology of the drugs, equipment and even the modalities for treatment have gotten so improved, refined and advanced that success has become a common place with IVF.
The very first time we started in Jos, we got the oldest African IVF woman pregnant and currently we are looking at having a success rate of about sixty five percent, especially in the younger age group as at an advanced age, of 40 and above, success rate dwindles, coming as low as 10-15 percent. So, it has actually been nice, but the challenge we have noticed is that the need of people for IVF is increasing.
How do you address the rising cases of sex and gender selection of babies in the modern world?
Yes it is true that people now demand for gender balancing, wanting to select the sex of their offspring or even request for gestational surrogacy services.
You know, when a couple has five girls for instance, they begin to demand for a boy or two and when you have all boys, you begin to look for a girl or two. The reasons for that are cultural, religious, political, or economic or even due to inheritances.
So, we are beginning to get requests for sex selection, either because of disease condition or cultural reasons, and that has increased the depth of the technicalities that we need to apply in the practice of IVF.
By and large, we are meeting those demands and requests. Nigeria has not put forth an ethics of control of some of the excesses in IVF. But then, what controls the excesses is actually our association with the American association of reproductive medicine, the European society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Those are the ethics that guides our practice. So the practice is controlled.
While we are grappling with the cost, we still find a way around the North central Region of Nigeria to bring IVF to a very minimal cost by doing things like the natural cycle IVF which is a little bit cheap as against the conventional IVF where so many drugs are consumed and very expensive .
How do you tackle the problem of late marriages among women and infertility?
Let me tell you that one of the interesting things you will like to know is the sexual revolution the world is going through now. Marriages do not come quite early , girls do not get married until they are old, and you know a woman’s reproductive life revolves around her age and time and the older she gets, the more difficult it is for her to get pregnant. Some people do not even get married until they are past forty, and at this stage, because of ignorance, they do not even know they do not have the capacity to achieve pregnancy quickly. But now, we see that with IVF, the woman can bank her eggs. You can imagine a woman has over seven hundred thousand eggs at birth, and when she gets old and wants to start using them, she sees none because she did not get married early. So we also started the process of freezing the female eggs. So the woman can freeze her eggs, take them up at a later time in life to achieve pregnancy and avoid using donated egg.
You know the world has also seen a lot of crises. We have a lot of military men or footballers who are married but do not cohabit with their wives, as they are either fighting for the country or on national assignments. In that process, their wives grow old without achieving pregnancy, so, their sperms can be frozen so they can achieve pregnancy any time with the husband’s consent.
How do you adopt science or technology in addressing male impotence?
Yes, impotence may mean that the man is not able to perform sexual activity, but does not necessarily mean he is infertile. A man can be impotent but still have sperms. We can surgically extract sperms from the testes and use them to the wife’s eggs. There is also the technology to use low sperm count in an ejaculated sperm to fertilise the woman’s eggs. That is one of the beauties of IVF.
Conventionally, before the man makes his wife pregnant, science has it that he should produce like fifteen to twenty million sperms in the ejaculate. But in IVF, we do not necessarily need that much. We also have many conditions today that make men unable to have sperms such as disease conditions, exposure to chemicals as seen in agriculturists, painters or those who work with all sorts of chemicals, their sperms are also affected by these lifestyles. So whether they have one million or two million sperms, we can use it to get the woman pregnant. Then of course, some may not even have at all. They may get donated sperm from anyone and can be used in treating their wives to achieve pregnancy. So the male factor now is very important as we can see now that the lifestyle of a man is also affecting his reproduction.
A man may have up to twenty million sperms, but because of his stressful lifestyle, the component of the DNA of his sperm may be affected. This is what we call the DNA fragmentation, so you see millions of sperms but not plenty to make a woman pregnant. IVF is also a means of addressing that.
Does IVF services have age limit?
There are age limits usually enforced in countries with strict ethics and regulations. For instance, in the UK, age limit is about fifty, and that is obtained in many European countries. But then, in medicine, there is what we call ethics. You can be older than fifty but judged by a doctor to be fit enough to conceive to bear a child. Nothing stops him from giving you that service because what governs the care we give to people these days is the patient’s autonomy.
The rights of the people are reproductive rights. For instance, an individual is free to access any reproductive care and benefit from scientific inventions. This is why we had a sixty three year old woman achieve pregnancy here in Jos. When that happened, we got calls from doctors from London saying why on earth did we have to make an old woman pregnant, knowing that life expectancy in Africa and Nigeria is very short. Who will take care of the baby when she dies? We told them that we are aware of that, but in medicine the intervention you give an individual depends on the person’s autonomy.
So you allow them make a choice, and make sure the intervention is beneficial.
We do no harm and we tell the truth. This woman’s desire was to achieve her dreams of carrying a baby in her life time that she can call her own and by the age of sixty three, with scientific ingenuity and the help of IVF or assisted reproduction technology, she was able to achieve it. While the world was criticising, the beneficiary was excited and happy that in her lifetime, she could carry a baby of her own. So, you see the balance. It is however important to note that at this age pregnancy may take its toll on her age.
But a woman may be as young as twenty years for instance, and you judge her unfit to carry a pregnancy because she may die from some heart condition that is incompatible with pregnancy. A woman in that condition may not be admitted by the physician to attempt the journey of pregnancy. Yes, there are age limits but the bottom line is let the health status of the individual determine what intervention is given.
At your ALPS Hospital and Diagnostics, what is the traffic of people coming for these services every day?
In my hospital where I work as head of the human reproduction unit, we see an average of four to six people who come to access these services daily. We treat them in batches of thirty to forty monthly, and the number is so because the people carrying the burden of infertility are enormous.
Over time, it appears that the quality of care we give people has been satisfactory and so they refer their friends to come access care here. More so, I think it is because the cost of the care here in Jos is cheaper compared to other regions. The cost of accommodation, transportation, and feeding are also lower. Cost of life generally is lower in Jos. So in a way, it brings down the cost of the IVF. Then more importantly, I am among few Africans that practice low cost IVF, which is the natural cycle IVF and that cuts off the cost of drugs that people spend and further breaks down the cost of treatment.
What are the disadvantages of going for IVF?
I will say there are no disadvantages, because people who have the problem have come for help. The most painful part that may be termed a disadvantage may be the failure of IVF. It is not every time that hundred per cent success is achieved by everybody. That is why I talked about the success rate. The failure may be as a result of social pressure, depression and frustration due to infertility. So for me, these are the disadvantages and the cost too, because no matter how low the costs of IVF, there are those who cannot afford it.
Can you carry out surgery without cutting the patient open under the current scientific dispensation?
That is actually called the minimal access surgery or keyhole surgery. Instead of cutting the patient open widely with your blade, you make only tiny holes in the abdomen or any cavity you intend to operate and introduce your gadgets as thin as one centimeter wide with your energy sources device and cut off what you want to cut. No matter how big there are devices that can cut them into bits and pieces and suck them out of the body.
You finish this type of operation as against keeping the patient in the hospital for several days as we see in conventional surgeries, the person can go back home same day or next day. That is minimal access surgery and it limits the injury inflicted during surgery and facilitates healing. Also, complications from this surgery are lesser if done successfully. People return to their normal lives easily and faster. You are able to return to work sooner when you undergo minimal access surgery
Yes, it is more expensive than the regular open surgery, reason being that the gadgets are costlier, the cost of training is extremely high and the length of time used in developing expertise is longer, and so, you can only expect it to be higher than conventional surgery.
IVF is believed to be relatively new in Nigeria and as such what would be your advice to the prospective Nigerian Couples.
My advice to Nigerian couples is to see the introduction of IVF assisted reproductive technology as a move design by God to help man through the advent of science. They should also play down culture. The fact that fertilisation is taking place outside does not mean that the doctor is creating eggs. The eggs were taken from the woman’s ovary and the sperm from the man. Just that they do not have a meeting point inside., but outside, but the baby develops inside the mother and is delivered by the mother. It stays the length of a conventional pregnancy. So they should take advantage of the innovation and advancement in science.
Oracle Reporters 