In August 2024, Uganda launched public IVF at national referral facility and a year later, Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital and so far 11 pregnancies have been registered from mothers whose hopes to bare children had deteriorated and could afford expensive private health facilities, sometimes, some could travel outside the country.
So far, two out the 11 have been successful according to the Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health.
Through a public statement posted on X formerly Twitter on Friday August o1, 2025, Atwine revealed how the bouncing baby girl was in good health and weighed 3.6 kg.
IVF, is a medical procedure where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the womb, like in test tubes and other medical health points.
“Great News! Our team at Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital has successfully delivered its second baby conceived through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We have a healthy baby girl weighing 3.6 kg”. Dr. Atwiine Posted, before congratulating the proud parents.
Dr. Atwine couldn’t hold her gratitude towards the medical experts, the government of Uganda and everyone behind the initiative.
“The hospital began offering IVF services in August 2024, and we are thrilled to report 11 confirmed pregnancies so far. A milestone worth celebrating as we continue expanding access to advanced specialized services to the country”. The post further reads.
The proud parents were identified as Salim Malinga and Sayeed Rukusana. The Ministry congratulated the couple in a statement issued Friday and hailed the development as a testament to the country’s strengthening capacity in advanced fertility care.
Early June this year, the first baby girl was delivery weighing 3.4 kg as revealed then by Emmanuel Ainebyona Spokesperson Ministry of Health.
Dr. Evelyn Nabunya, the Executive Director of Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital had in January revealed how the programme was facing financial challenges and needed an addition of around Ugx 1.2bn to be sustained and yet Ugx 1.5m is required for a single client.
“To perform a single IVF cycle for one client, we require UGX1.5 million. We urgently need an additional UGX1.2 billion to sustain,” she said in January.
In the government’s effort to fight infertility and improve maternal health, IVF is among the initiatives.
By; Mukose Arnold Anthony,
Digitalk TV, Senior Journalist and Programmes Director.