An Egyptian doctor, Rasha Kelej is trying to de-stigmatise infertility among women and empower those who are unable to bear children through her More than a Mother Campaign. For many women in developing countries, infertility comes with unfair discrimination, mistreatment, physical and emotional abuse.
The campaign which is under the MERCK Foundation- one of the world's oldest pharmaceuticals is aimed at providing affordable and regulated fertility care to women in African countries.
Data provided by WHO (World Health Organisation) reveals that infertility affects up to 15% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. In Sub -Saharan countries, infertility caused by preventable infections affects 85% of women compared to 33% of women worldwide. Despite such glaring statistics, infertility prevention programs are largely neglected in public health issues.
For many infertile women, in vitro fertilization (IVF) can help. This technology enables eggs to be fertilized directly by sperm outside the woman's body. The fertilized embryo is then transferred back into the woman's uterus. Unfortunately for most women in developing countries, infertility services are not widely available and IVF is unaffordable.
More than a Mother Campaign has launched in several countries including Kenya and trained fertility specialists in Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Chad and Niger and the Central African Republic.