By Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned a modern Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, with a view to improve reproductive healthcare services and overcome issues of infertility in Nigeria.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the Centre, President Tinubu who was represented by the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin, described the facility as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward advanced medical innovation and improved fertility treatment.
He said the centre is equipped with a Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis system, which uses automated imaging and software to assess sperm concentration, motility, and morphology within minutes, reducing errors associated with manual analysis.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also disclosed that the facility has an Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection workstation that enables specialists to inject a single sperm directly into an egg in cases of severe male infertility, improving fertilisation success rates.
According to him, the centre also supports embryo screening for genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease, helping to ensure healthier pregnancies and better family outcomes.
In his speech earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, commended the Federal Government and the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi for the initiative, described Infertility Centre as a significant boost to healthcare delivery in the state and across the country.
While delivering his remarks, the Director of Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Professor Sa’idu Kadas, described infertility as a growing public health concern, revealing that six out of every ten patients attending the hospital’s gynaecology clinic present infertility-related issues.
He said the centre offers renewed hope to couples struggling to conceive, adding that many families who had lost hope now have access to advanced fertility solutions closer to home.
In his Contributory remarks, the Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, noted that before the establishment of the centre, many patients from Northern Nigeria travelled to Abuja and other countries for fertility treatment at great financial and emotional cost.
To this end, The Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin, assured that adequate measures have been put in place for staff training, equipment maintenance, and continuous technical support to ensure the sustainability of the facility.
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