New fertility training programme launched

Rasha Kelej, the head of Global Business Responsibility and Market Development at Merck Serono, speaks at an event in Nairobi on February 22, 2013. FILE PHOTO | SALATON NJAU |

What you need to know:

  • Programme is a collaboration between the University of Nairobi and the University of Indonesia.
  • It targets about 5,000 medical students across selected universities in Africa.

The University of Nairobi and the University of Indonesia are collaborating on a training programme that will address infertility in families.

The programme will provide training on infertility to medical students and doctors.

“Access to adequate comprehensive reproductive health services, including infertility care, is a basic right regardless of the economic circumstances in which individuals are born into,” said Rasha Kelej, the head of Global Business Responsibility and Market Development at pharmaceutical firm Merck Serono, adding that the programme will be used to identify ways of improving access to high quality fertility medicare in Indonesia and Kenya.

“One of the strategies to increase health service access is to improve the referral system for infertility care and strengthen the links between general practitioners and infertility providers,” said Dr Budi Wiweko, IVF Consultant and Research Manager of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia.

TAUGHT BY EXPERTS

Dr Wiweko said the programme will also help participants understand the cultural, psychological and caring aspects related to fertility management and the model of early stage counselling of couples with fertility problems.

The five year programme is accredited by the European Council of Continuous Medical Education (EACCME). The classes will be taught by fertility experts from Germany, Canada and Indonesia.

It is aimed at expanding the professional capacity in Africa and developing countries in the areas of research and development, advocacy building, supply-chain integrity and efficiency, pharmacovigilance, medical education, and community awareness.

“Infertility affects men and women equally. Approximately one-third of cases of couple infertility is due to male factors, one-third to female factors and one-third relates to a combination of male and female factors or has no identifiable cause,” said Dr Wiweko.

The programme targets about 5,000 medical students across selected universities in Africa.