Establishing an Infertile Hospital in Rwanda
An infertile hospital is a medical facility with specialized equipment and personnel that provides low-cost fertility care. In a low-income country, such services can provide much-needed access to treatment for patients who cannot otherwise afford it. RII has developed an innovative model to establish infertility clinics and IVF laboratories integrated within existing maternity hospitals. The project is designed to be sustainable in the long term, and a range of stakeholders has contributed funds, facilities, staff, time, and materials.난임병원
In the past, Rwandans seeking infertility care often traveled to India to pay for IVF cycles that cost 5,000 USD per cycle, or to a private clinic that offered cheaper but less advanced procedures. Because of the high cost and limited capacity, few Rwandans could benefit from these services. Moreover, the costs and time of travel to receive infertility treatments may negatively impact patients’ quality of life and ability to work or pursue education.
A variety of factors can cause infertility, including disorders in both the woman and man, which can interfere with the reproductive system’s normal functioning or with sperm or egg production. Female infertility is most common, and the causes can include hormonal imbalances, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or uterine adhesions. Male infertility is less prevalent, and common causes are a lack of testosterone or sperm count abnormalities.
Fertility treatments for women include drugs that stimulate or inhibit ovulation, increase or decrease cervical secretions, or regulate menstrual flow. In addition, doctors can fertilize an egg outside the body by injecting sperm into it or placing an embryo in the woman’s uterus. This approach is called assisted reproductive technology (ART), and it has enabled couples to conceive who otherwise would have been unable to do so.
Many men and women suffer from oligospermia, which means that they have fewer sperm than needed to achieve conception. STIs can also contribute to infertility, as can chronic infections and diseases of the reproductive organs or genitalia, as well as emotional stress and smoking.
RII’s experience with establishing an infertility clinic and laboratory within a maternity hospital has shown that it is possible for such services to be sustained in a low-income country. However, successful integration requires the following prerequisites: a multistakeholder commitment; funding mechanisms; an appropriate infrastructure; social health protection mechanisms; medical products and supplies; and training programs and staff retention mechanisms. These requirements are in line with global guidance on how to maximize the impact of global health partnerships and ensure sustainability. Ultimately, integrating infertility services into the health system is essential to achieving universal health coverage.서울아이앤여성의원