Infertility: AliBaba Fulfils Promise, Offers couples Free Treatment
IN fulfilment of the promise made on the first day of the year, ace Comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome popularly known as Ali Baba has put smiles on the faces of six Nigerian couples who have won his tickets to recieve free fertility treatment cycles at the Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos.
The Free Treatment Cycles which is an initiative of the Fertility Treatment Support Foundation, FTSF as part of its Fertility Awareness Advocate Initiative FAAI is being supported by Ali Baba for the first time.
It was no doubt a very jouyous day for the six fertility-challenged couples who went through the rigours of selections and eventually emerged winners when they were announced at the weekend and given the certificates of participation in the free treatments.
The free treatment option which has been on-going for a while by the FTSF has continued to recieve suports from individuals as noted by the founder, Dr Abayomi Ajayi who explained that Ali Baba’s involvement was due to his concern at the number of couples who are fertility challenged “during one of his visits and encounter with some of the couples at our corporate headquarters here in Lagos”.
According to Ajayi, “It all started following a visit to Alibaba’s office and for the first time he realised the gravity of the situation faced by infertile couples and affordability of treatment.
He said, Ali Baba in all seriousness was moved by the fact that many of those who sought help could not afford the cost of treatment cycles “and he we got talking. He then suggested as part of hois Corporate Social Responsibility, he would like to sponsor some couples. That was how an agreement was struck about partnership with FTSF. So, after thorough screening of potential couples, we arrived at the six who have qualified by all standards and can be treated”, said Ajayi.
He believes with the criteria for selection of the eventual winners, the six couple are likely to become parents with God’s permision.
Ajayi noted that among criteria for selection is that there are no contra indications for IVF.
According to him, “We are trying to look for the patients that would accept the treatment options and also have the best chances for success.”
Nordica Fertility Centre has been responsible for the screening exercise.
The six lucky couples were: Mr Okon & Mrs Vivian Eshiet; Mr Humphrey and Mrs Precious Oghomienor.
Others were Mr Celestine and Mrs Chika Udoji , Mr Jeffrey and Mrs Omolola Anioye; Mr and Mrs Pat Harry and Mr Musibau and Mrs Halima Akande.
On lessons learnt, Ajayi noted: “What we are beginning to see is that a lot of Nigerians are not exposed to good health facilities, so when they first come up a lot of things are thrown at us that we probably do not see everyday and when they come up we now have to make recommendations to those concerned about what to do first.”
One of the winners, Mrs Precious Oghomienor, described the gesture as wonderful and humane even as she urged infertile couples to be supportive of each other and to never give up trying to conceive.
