Let’s join hands and win battle against stigmatisation of females with infertility – Akufo-Addo urges
President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged first ladies of fellow African countries, policy makers and other key stakeholders to join hands and win the battle against the stigmatisation of females with infertility.
According to the President, since women are the first line educators of children, it is important the African continent empowers women rather than stigmatizing them.
Speaking at the 6th annual conference of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary in Accra,President Akufo-Addo noted that based on the World Health Organization (WHO) report, One Hundred and Eight Six Million (186 Million) people around the world experience either primary or secondary infertility.
The report has established that even though infertility in men is the course of fifty percent (50%) of cases of a couples inability to conceive, the economic, psychological and socio-cultural burden falls disproportionately on women.
In order to address the infertility challenge on the African continent, President Akufo Addo suggested that the African continent introduce a concrete measures aimed at helping infertile women to over they same.
“The onus is on each and every one of us to work towards finding solutions to addressing infertility and ending stigmatization. We must as a matter of necessity take urgent steps to incorporate issues regarding infertility prevention and treatment and the development of maternal and reproductive health care policies in our respective countries, ” the President stated.
On the issue of assisted reproductive technology, President Akufo Addo indicated that “we must most certainly make the concept which is commonly referred to as “In Vitro Fertilization” (IVF), “affordable and more available to majority of women on the continent who are faced with infertility”.
Emphasizing on the stigmatisation call, First Lady of the Republic, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo Addo, who is also the Co-chairperson of the 6th edition of the Merck Africa Asia Luminary, supported the call of the President indicating that “blaming, mocking and shunning perceived infertile couples must stop”.
It is everyone’s responsibility to empower infertile couples, fight against stigmatization, change mindsets, influence national policies on fertility and build fertility capacity in Africa and developing countries” First Lady Rebecca Akufo Addo said.
The Merck Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology.
This year’s conference was on the theme “Together for a Better Future. “