Session 124: ART in Africa

Session 124: ART in Africa

Tuesday, 7th November (3 pm EDT / 8 pm UK / 9 pm CET)

Synopsis:
The webinar provided an illuminating look at the landscape of fertility treatment across Africa. Leading experts shared insights into how African nations advanced assisted reproduction through innovation, collaboration, and a focus on accessibility and affordability. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including IVF registry data, training initiatives, perspectives on preimplantation genetic testing, and firsthand accounts from ART professionals across the continent.
Throughout the webinar, attendees gained a deeper understanding of Africa's journey with assisted reproduction and what the future may hold for the field globally. The discussions also delved into the practices, initiatives, and research that were shaping the landscape of fertility treatment across the dynamic continent of Africa.
The leading voices in the field shared their perspectives from the frontlines of fertility treatment, showcasing cutting-edge lab technology and grassroots community outreach. The collaboration among African nations to improve outcomes in assisted reproduction was a central theme, offering insights into how the region was working together to shape the future of assisted reproduction in Africa and beyond.
Moderators for the webinar included Dr. Silke Dyer, Adedamilola Atiba-Sogules, Manar Hozyen, and Giles Palmer.
Presenters featured in the webinar were: Dr. Paversan Archary, who presented "IVF in Africa with facts and figures from ANARA, the African IVF registry.", Dr. David Moroll, who shared insights on "Supporting ART in Africa: a trainer’s view.", Dr. Ibrahim Wada, who provided an "Experience and perspectives on PGT and sickle cell disease." And Various ART professionals in Africa, whose voices were captured in a video montage of interviews.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage further with the presenters and moderators.

Dr. Silke Dyer

Professor Silke Dyer (FCOG, FRCOG hon, PhD) is an obstetrician and gynaecologist and reproductive medicine subspecialist. She is the Director of ANARA, the African Network and Registry for Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the Clinical Data Director of the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ICMART). She serves on the Science and Technology Advisory Group, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, of the World Health Organization; and on the Education Committee of the International Federation of Fertility Societies.

She is in fulltime clinical and academic practice working at Groote Schuur Hospital, a level three referral centre in the public-academic health sector of South Africa, where she is Head of the Division of Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is also a full professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town.

Prof Dyer’s clinical and academic work is driven by the desire to improve infertility-related reproductive health services and access to care, and through this the quality of life of infertile people. Her research, regional activity, and international engagement are focussed on registries monitoring utilisation, availability, effectiveness and safety of ART, the delivery of fertility care in low resource settings, and the psychological and socio-cultural experience of infertility.

Adedamilola Atiba-Sogules

Adedamilola Atiba-Sogules “Dami” is a distinguished Senior Clinical Embryologist with a profound background in Genetics, and Reproductive Sciences. Holding a Master's degree in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds with distinction, her academic excellence is complemented by a first-class Bachelor of Science degree in Cell Biology and Genetics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa.

Certified by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) as a Senior Clinical Embryologist, she has accumulated extensive experience over 13 years in prestigious fertility centers across different continents, including a leading IVF center in Nigeria, where she held pivotal roles such as Genetics Lab Director and Embryology Lab Director for over 10 years. Presently, she serves as a Senior Clinical Embryologist in one of the leading fertility clinics in Canada.

Dami's dedication to advancing knowledge is evidenced through her active participation in workshops, conferences, and presentations focused on reproductive science. She has also contributed research findings to esteemed journals and currently writes an informative blog on assisted reproductive technology.

Dami is a skilled team player who excels in challenging assignments. Her passion lies in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetic Counseling, Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT), Human Genetics, Stem Cell Therapy and Biotechnology.

Dami is a forward-thinking, detail-oriented clinical embryologist who consistently seeks opportunities to augment her skills and enrich the field of reproductive science.

Manar Hozyen

Manar is a ESHRE certified senior clinical embryologist, American board certified as Embryology laboratory scientist and medical technologist (ELS/MT).
She is a board member in the Egyptian society of embryology and ART(ESEART) and working at Ganin fertility center in Egypt- one of the leading IVF centers in the Middle East.
She is graduated from faculty of science, (Biotechnology/Bimolecular chemistry) department, Cairo University, then completed her Master degree of “Biotechnology and bioengineering in IVF and in human based research” excellent with honor at University of Messina, Italy.

She has 10 years of experience in the ART field, and she is well equipped with the knowledge of IVF lab quality control, work ethics, technical work and troubleshooting.
She has many published abstracts presented at different international conferences, full article, book chapter and invited as a reviewer for many researches.

Giles Palmer

Giles is a clinical embryologist, skilled in laboratory, business, and quality management. After graduating in Genetics at Leeds University, UK he worked as a research officer at London's Hammersmith Hospital's acclaimed IVF unit working with Professors Lord Winston and Alan Handyside. In the following years he worked as laboratory manager and clinic director in IVF clinics in Greece while consulting in several countries including Iceland, Nigeria, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania. His research collaboration with St. Sophia' s Children's Hospital (Athens University) resulted in the first births in Greece following embryo-biopsy and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and the first ever PGT cycles screening for Beta Thalassemia.

He has published in leading scientific journals on a variety of topics including pre-implantation genetic testing for Cystic Fibrosis and B-thalassaemia, Morpho-kinetics, and Quality Management. He is a certified HCPC clinical scientist in the UK and has been accredited with Senior Embryologist Status by ESHRE. More recently, Giles, has become a consultant for IVF clinics, Institute of Life, Athens and Nordica Fertility Centre in Lagos and product developer in a wide range of areas within the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) industry.

He is the executive director for the non-profit global educational project the International IVF Initiative (I3) which supports the ART community with webinars and lectures and Director of Global Communications for IVF 2.0 Ltd.

Dr. Paversan Archary

Dr Pavs Archary is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, and Sub-Specialist in Reproductive Medicine in full time practice at 2 Military Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital Reproductive Medicine Unit, Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently undertaking a PhD in Reproductive Medicine under the supervision of Professor Silke Dyer in the field of ART Data Monitoring in Africa.
He is the Clinical Assistant of ANARA, The African Network and Registry for Assisted Reproductive Technology: Chair of SARA, The South African Registry for Assisted Reproductive Technology; and is an ICMART (International Committee Monitoring ART) regional contributor for Africa.
In this role he is responsible for training and skills development in ART data collection in Africa, as well as ART data collection, assimilation, and reporting. Dr Archary has co-authored Regional ART data reports from ANARA, as well as a book chapter on ART Data monitoring in Africa.

Dr. David Moroll 

David is Director of Clinical Support, CooperSurgical Fertility Solutions.
Dr Morroll has worked as a Clinical Embryologist since 1986, training in Manchester (UK), where he also completed his PhD studies. He has managed several laboratories in the UK and consulted to laboratories internationally. Among other professional activities, he previously served as Chair of the UK Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) and UK Association of Biomedical Andrologists (ABA).

He joined ORIGIO (now CooperSurgical) in November 2011 and in his current role, as Director of Clinical Support, Dr Morroll is part of the Professional Education & Clinical Support team, providing technical and scientific support as well as education and training.
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Dr. Ibrahim Wada

TBADR. IBRAHIM WADA (OON)
MBBS, MFFP,FRCOG, FWACS, FICS, MBA

Dr. Ibrahim Wada, obtained his MBBS degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1980. He held residency posts at Jos University Teaching Hospital (1982-1986), Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge UK (1986-1987) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn (1988-1999). He obtained the MRCOG in 1988. He was Clinical Research Fellow in Reproductive Medicine at Manchester Fertility Services (1989-1990) and St. Mary’s hospital, Manchester (1991-1992). He has held Consultant posts at Bourn hall Clinic, Cambridge in (1992-1994), Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital (1994-1999) and he is presently a Chief Consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja. He was the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at National Hospital from 2002 to 2004.

In addition to his medical qualifications, Dr. Wada holds a Master of Business Administration in International Hospitals and Healthcare Management from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management in Germany.

In 1996, he founded Nisa Premier Hospital as a dedicated infertility and assisted conception unit. The Centre’s breakthrough in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1998 was the first test baby authenticated by the Federal Government in Nigeria. More than 1000 IVF and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) live births have been recorded in the hospital since then. Nigeria’s first ever “deep freeze” baby was born from Nisa Premier Hospital on 12th October 2001.

Nisa Premier Hospital has grown significantly beyond the Fertility & IVF practice over the years to include Maternity, Paediatrics, Family Medicine and Endoscopic surgery services.

In 2007, Dr. Wada became the pioneer Medical Director of Garki Hospital Abuja Public Private Partnership (PPP) introduced by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. Today, the hospital stands as a shining example of a very successful PPP in healthcare.

Dr. Ibrahim Wada is a recipient of a National Award of the Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) conferred on him by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2006.

Nisa Premier Hospital Abuja has been awarded National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government in 2013.

Thank you to all who took part in the montage of "Voices of Africa": Roselyn Obasa, Salima Daoud, Teresa Ernest, Zulaigha Williams, Manar Hozyen, Abdelali Zoghmar, Moses Tiri and Omar Sefrioui