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Improve maternal care, mental health to address infertility —Health experts
Health experts have called for urgent public education, improved maternal care and mental health support to help address the medical and social impact of infertility.
Speaking at a health media training programme organised by the Merck Foundation last week in Dubai, leading specialists from across the continent called for urgent action to fight cultural stigma, improve access to reproductive healthcare, and normalise open conversations around infertility.
Dr Edem K. Hiadzi, a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist with the Lister Hospital in Accra, highlighted reproductive tract infections as one of the major causes of infertility in women across sub-Saharan Africa.
He explained that these infections often result from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), unsafe abortion practices, and post-delivery infections, which are frequently linked to untrained birth attendants or traditional healers.
“Infections acquired during unsterile procedures such as unsafe abortions or poorly managed deliveries can lead to tubal blockage and adhesions,” Dr Hiadzi said.
“Asherman’s syndrome, caused by excessive scraping of the uterine lining during dilation and curettage (D&C), is another major contributor. These are preventable conditions, yet they continue to rob many women of the ability to conceive.”
He expressed concern that a significant number of women in rural and underserved communities still deliver outside professional health facilities, increasing their risk of infections that lead to long-term complications.
“We cannot ignore the role of unskilled birth practices in perpetuating infertility. Prolonged and obstructed labour, for instance, can lead to pelvic infections, tubal damage, and obstetric fistula-some of the most devastating outcomes for any woman,” he added.
Dr Hiadzi stressed that infertility, particularly among women, is often misunderstood and leads to severe social consequences.
Supporting his call for action, Dr Francisca Bwalya, a consultant psychiatrist and Zambia’s National Mental Health Coordinator, highlighted the psychological trauma many women endure due to infertility.
Dr Bwalya warned that the emotional burden can lead to anxiety, depression, and long-lasting mental health challenges.
She called for community-based education campaigns to address behavioural practices and promote safer reproductive choices.
Dr David Mwesigye, a fertility specialist based in Kigali, Rwanda, emphasised the importance of early medical intervention.
He explained that while men can remain fertile well into old age, women’s fertility significantly declines after the age of 35.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
News
Steps underway to repeal L.I 2462 – Prez assures
President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that steps are underway to repeal Legislative Instrument 2462 as part of efforts to protect the country’s forests and water bodies.
During his media encounter at the Jubilee House, the president explained that the repeal will formalise the ban on mining in forest reserves and strengthen enforcement against illegal mining.
He stressed that his administration is committed to safeguarding the environment, reclaiming degraded reserves, and deploying more personnel to protect river bodies across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
9 forest reserves recovered from illegal mining – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the recovery of nine forest reserves from illegal mining under his government’s intensified environmental protection drive.
Addressing journalists at the Jubilee House, the president explained that hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other equipment have been seized as part of the operation, while degraded areas are being reclaimed and restored.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to end mining in protected areas, deploy more personnel to safeguard river bodies and strengthen laws to secure Ghana’s natural resources for future generations.
This notwithstanding, President Mahama revealed that two of the retrieved forest reserves had gone back into the hands of illegal miners, however, adequate measures have been put in place to reclaim them.
By: Jacob Aggrey
