The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, on Tuesday celebrated the birth of its first In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) baby born through assisted reproductive technology.

Osato Giwa-Osagie, professor and coordinator of the The Assisted Fertility Centre (AFC), made this known during a verification visit by a team from the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Abuja.

He said, “We are officially announcing the birth of a baby through our efforts in this centre.

“The baby boy, whose parents want to remain anonymous, was born on November 5.

“We are very glad, especially as our effort is working; we want to increase the number of our successes, as such, we call on the government for more support and funding.’’

Mr. Osagie said of all the 45 IVF clinics in Nigeria, only five were government-owned, adding that they were located in Abuja, Ilorin, Benin, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and LUTH in Lagos.

“The National Hospital, Abuja, is the first public IVF Centre; there are only five of such public health IVF centres in Nigeria.

“We need more centres to help more people; we can help other centres to stand, especially as we have the expertise and nurses who are available to train others.