Uganda : 70-year-old woman gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, through in vitro fertilization using her husband's sperm and donated eggs.
Safina Namukwaya welcomed the twins on November 29 at the International Women’s Hospital and Fertility Center in Kampala, where she underwent in vitro fertilization, local media reported on December 1. The babies were born at 31 weeks and are being kept in an incubator.
Dr Edward Tamale Sali said the mother used donated eggs and her husband's sperm to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF).
"This is an extraordinary achievement to help Africa's oldest mother have twins," said Dr Sali, adding that the twins, a boy and a girl, are still being cared for in hospital but are in good health.
Safina Namukwaya at the International Women's Hospital and Fertility Centre in the capital Kampala this week. Photo: Facebook/International Women's Hospital and Fertility Centre
Mrs Namukwaya, who lives in rural Masaka, about 120km west of the capital Kampala, was completely healthy and able to walk after giving birth.
"There is no way to describe how happy I am right now. Women in their 70s are considered to be in poor health, unable to conceive and give birth or care for a baby, so it is a miracle to welcome these twins," she said.
Ms Namukwaya gave birth to a baby girl in 2020, after being taunted as a “cursed woman” for not having children. Her first husband died in 1992, leaving her childless, and she met her current husband in 1996.
However, Mrs Namukwaya was disappointed that her husband had not visited her since she was admitted to hospital to give birth.
"Maybe he wasn't happy when I gave birth to twins. Men don't want their wives to give birth to twins because they're afraid of the burden that comes with it," she said.
Dr. Sali is a renowned obstetrician in East Africa. He founded the International Women's Hospital and Fertility Center, which specializes in helping infertile couples.
Research breakthroughs are improving IVF success rates. In 2019, a 73-year-old Indian woman gave birth to twins using IVF.
Huyen Le (According to AFP, NBC )
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