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                           IVF Faces Stigma in Kenya

   by Rael Ombuor

   Millions of babies have been born via in-vitro fertilization since the
   method was first developed in Britain in 1978; but, IVF technology has
   been slow to catch on in sub-Saharan Africa.

   The Nairobi IVF Center opened in 2004 and has since helped more than
   2,000 infertile couples have biological children, said head of
   operations Joy Noreh.

   "To be African does not mean you are primitive. It is just lack of
   knowledge in some people that they did not understand what IVF is but
   once you explain what the treatment protocol entails, they basically
   understand and embrace it," said Noreh.

   In-vitro fertilization, or IVF, involves extracting the egg and
   fertilizing it with the man's sperm outside the body. The embryo is
   then inserted into the woman's uterus.

   Noreh said the clinic had a 55 percent success rate.

   A single cycle costs the equivalent of $4,000.

   "The treatment is for that specific couple that desperately desires to
   have a child and are determined at whatever cost to get that child. It
   is not classified for rich or poor. It is for the psychologically
   charged person that needs a baby," said Noreh.

   It is not just the high cost keeping Kenyans away from IVF. Some people
   say scientists should not be "playing God."

   ''

   Less invasive medical treatments for infertility have become popular in
   Kenya, such as taking the prescription medicine Clomid to
   spur ovulation. Other women follow dietary recommendations and seek out
   traditional herbal treatments. Some couples turn to prayer.

   Grace and Peter Maina live in a leafy suburb of Nairobi. Their nieces
   stayed with them over the Easter weekend. The couple have been trying
   to have a baby for five years.

   "We have read about IVF and made a decision not to go the IVF way
   because we have always believed in the natural way of doing things.
   Being Christians and more so Africans, we believe that God is the giver
   of children," he said.

   He said they planned to adopt if they could not have children
   naturally.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ivf-faces-stigma-in-kenya/3259739.htm
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ivf-faces-stigma-in-kenya/3259739.html