Efforts to advance medical science got a boost Wednesday when doctors in reproductive medicine concluded a year-long training program in infertility and assisted reproductive technology for the Post Fellowship Diploma of the West African College of Surgeons.
The year-long post fellowship program, hosted by Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, is for Consultant Gynaecologists to acquire knowledge and skills in advanced fertility treatments, providing participants hands-on training in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and related technologies.
Programme director, Dr Ibrahim Wada, said Nisa Premier Hospital, was determined to embrace advancement in medical practice, hence the need for continuous training.
“The world is moving towards certifying basic minimum requirements for this kind of highly sensitive program. And we are very happy to be the pioneer group that gave birth to this sub specialisation program.”
He said the program provides post-training certification for doctors across Nigeria and West Africa, focusing primarily on the peculiarities of the black population.
Professors Joseph Ikechebelum and Nkiruka Ameh, both members of the training faculty in advanced medical knowledge expressed confidence in the ability of Nigerian doctors to provide specialist care.
Professor Ikechebelum, Faculty Chairman of West African College of Surgeons, observed that “management of infertility and assisted reproductive technology is one of the sub-specialties in obstetrics and gynaecology. And for a long time, there was no certified, standardised training for gyneacologists in the area of infertility and assisted reproductive technology in the whole West African sub-region.”
Professor Hajara Umar Suleiman, a participant said most of Nigerian doctors who go abroad for specialist training in fertility treatment where often denied physical interaction with patients. “They tell you that you don’t have the certificate of their country to practice. But in this place, we spent one whole year and we had a lot of hands-on experience,” she said.
Dr. Dolapo Shittu, another participant, expressed gratitude to Nisa Premier Hospital for providing a platform for residency training and knowledge sharing with experts.
“History was made today by the grace of God. I am very happy to be here,” he said.
