A 70-year-old Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, achieved a historic milestone by delivering twins—a boy and a girl—through In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment at the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in Kampala. The successful caesarean delivery took place on Wednesday, as announced by the hospital on its Facebook page.
According to Punch, the hospital praised Namukwaya’s courage and resilience, emphasizing that her story transcends medical success, highlighting the strength of the human spirit. IVF, a technique aiding fertility-challenged individuals in conceiving, involves fertilizing an egg with sperm in a controlled laboratory setting before implanting the resulting embryo into the woman’s womb.
In an interview with NTV channel, Namukwaya revealed that this marked her second delivery in three years, having given birth to a girl in 2020. Despite facing various challenges during her pregnancy, including the absence of the children’s father, she expressed joy at overcoming societal stigma surrounding childlessness.
Namukwaya shared her struggles, citing desertion by the children’s father and societal ridicule. She recounted instances of being heckled, recalling hurtful remarks about being cursed to die childless. Despite uncertainties about raising the twins, she expressed happiness at finally becoming a mother after enduring societal judgment for years.
The hospital declared Namukwaya as the oldest woman in Africa to give birth, underscoring the significance of her achievement. As the world celebrates this remarkable event, it serves as a testament to both medical advancements and the unwavering spirit of individuals overcoming societal challenges on their journey to parenthood.
