The President of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, Professor Preye Fiebai, has cautioned that nurses should not administer fertility treatments independently in any medical facility.
While nurses are essential in assisting physicians, they lack the qualifications required to treat infertility cases independently.
“Nurses are trained to assist physicians in administering treatment to patients. They are certainly not qualified to treat infertility on their own,” Prof. Fiebai said in an interview with the PUNCH
This announcement follows the arrest of a fake fertility nurse, Blessing David-Agwa, in Enugu State. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, David-Agwa allegedly defrauded over 45 women, taking about N28.2 million under the false identity of a fertility nurse. She is accused of forging certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to trick victims into trusting her services.
In light of rising concerns over unregistered practitioners in Nigeria’s fertility sector, Prof. Fiebai stressed the importance of verifying medical qualifications. He advised those seeking fertility services to carefully confirm the credentials of health professionals to avoid falling victim to unqualified practitioners.
“I advise patients seeking fertility treatment to ensure they verify the authenticity and qualifications of all health professionals offering services,” he said, adding that the lack of proper law enforcement has contributed to a “lawless” atmosphere that enables such fraud.
Recent data reveals a growing demand for assisted reproductive treatments, with increased infertility rates reported. Studies, including one from the World Health Organization, indicate that around one in six adults globally now experiences infertility.
