By Adebayo Moses
A 70-year-old Safina Namukwaya from Uganda has become the oldest woman in Africa to give birth to twins through In vitro fertilization (IVF).
The historic delivery occurred via caesarean section at the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Kampala.
Namukwaya, who faced challenges during her pregnancy, shared her joy despite being abandoned by the father of the children.
The hospital proudly announced the birth on Facebook, inviting everyone to celebrate this remarkable event.
This marks Namukwaya’s second childbirth in three years, defying societal stigma and ridicule.
Expressing her concerns, Namukwaya revealed, “Men don’t like to be told that you are carrying more than one child. Ever since I was admitted here, my man has never shown up.”
Despite uncertainties about raising the children, she expressed her joy at finally having them after enduring years of societal stigma and ridicule for her inability to conceive.
She recounted an incident where she was mocked by a young boy who insensitively commented that she was cursed by her mother to remain childless.
“One time, a very young boy heckled me saying I had been cursed by my mother to die without a child”.
The hospital where Namukwaya gave birth confirmed her status as the oldest woman in Africa to deliver a baby.
The IVF procedure involves fertilizing an egg with sperm in a controlled lab before placing the embryo in the woman’s womb.