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Excessive alcohol intake can cause infertility in men
Dr Hiadzi (Inset) addressing participants at the event
A Medical Director, Consultant and Fertility Specialist, Dr Edem Hiadzi, has warned that excessive alcohol consumption is a contributory factor of infertility in men.
Dr Hiadzi explained that excessive alcohol intake can affect sperm production and eventually lead to infertility.
He gave the warning during a presentation on male infertility at a media health training at the 11th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, held in Tanzania last week.
The training was to create a culture shift by raising awareness about social and health issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, stopping Gender Based Violence (GBV) and raising awareness about early detection and prevention of diabetes and hypertension.
Dr Hiadzi advised couples to seek medical help when faced problems related to child-bearing, after a year of regular sexual intercourse.
He then urged men to limit alcohol consumption, maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and avoid smoking and substance abuse.
Infertility now affects one in six couples of reproductive age according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mauritian Medical and Health expert, Dr Janita Neermul Bhujun, encouraged the media to promote self-actualisation and raise awareness on legal matters and mental health issues.
Zimbabwe Editors’ Forum Director, Njabulo Ncube, also challenged journalists to play a lead role in breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence and end child marriage issues among other social ills through objective reporting.
Presenting the role of the media in community awareness, Ncube elaborated that the media can serve as a creative and honest tool to address sensitive and critical social and health issues, saying, “I want to challenge the African Media to do more in this respect for it to be an effective and honest tool.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu