Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate organises Maternal, Child Health lecture, advocates early fertility to curb infertility,maternal and child complications, mortality.

• Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate organises Maternal, Child Health lecture, advocates early fertility to curb infertility,maternal and child complications, mortality

The Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate has organised a Maternal and Child Health lecture aimed at raising awareness about delayed childbearing and its possible implications for infertility, maternal and child health complications and preventable deaths, with participants urged to take the message to their families and communities.
The lecture, held at the Rotary Club House, Oluyole Way, New Bodija, Ibadan, featured Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr. Idowu Olowokere, who advocated greater awareness and informed decision-making on marriage and childbearing, particularly among young people.
Olowokere, Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer of God’s Knot Hospital and Fertility Centre, Ologuneru, Ibadan, spoke on the theme, “Fertility Postponement: Implications for Future Reproductive Outcomes — The IVF and Surrogacy Options.”
The programme was organised under the leadership of the President of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate, Rotarian Anya Chukwu, as part of the club’s commitment to promoting Maternal and Child Health awareness and creating lasting impact in the community.
Speaking on the importance of the programme, Chukwu said the club considered the lecture necessary because many people, particularly young adults, were postponing marriage and childbearing without adequate knowledge of the possible consequences.
He said the Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate was committed to bringing credible health information to the public and creating platforms where people could learn directly from qualified professionals.
According to him, “Maternal and Child Health is an area that requires continuous public education because the decisions people make today can have significant consequences for their health and the health of their children tomorrow.”

The Rotary president urged participants to share the knowledge gained from the lecture with their families, friends and communities, stressing that awareness could help people seek medical advice early and avoid preventable complications.
He added that the club would continue to support programmes that promote health education, prevention and access to expert knowledge as part of its commitment to creating lasting impact in society.
The programme attracted Rotarians, Rotaractors, members of Inner Wheel, staff and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Oyo State, as well as other members of the public.
Speaking on delayed fertility, Olowokere explained that fertility naturally declines with advancing age, warning that postponing childbearing could expose individuals and couples to challenges that may affect their ability to achieve successful pregnancies later in life.
He identified education and career pursuits, the search for financial stability, extended honeymoon and certain medical conditions among factors responsible for delayed childbearing.
According to him, the possible consequences include declining ovulatory function, reduced sperm production, hormonal changes, pelvic infections, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and complications associated with abortions.
The fertility specialist stressed that female fertility is highest in the 20s and early 30s, noting that the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy generally decline with advancing age.
He, however, explained that developments in reproductive medicine, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), fertility preservation and surrogacy, have provided options for individuals and couples experiencing fertility challenges.
Olowokere said IVF, while offering hope to many couples, does not completely eliminate the biological effects of age on fertility.
He also highlighted egg, sperm and embryo preservation as options available to individuals who wish to preserve their reproductive potential for future use.
He explained that reproductive cells and embryos could be frozen and stored at ultra-low temperatures in liquid nitrogen, allowing individuals to preserve their fertility options where appropriate.
The doctor further discussed IVF and surrogacy as possible options for couples facing fertility challenges, stressing that such advances should not create a false sense of security or encourage people to disregard the biological realities of reproductive ageing.

Participants commend Rotary initiative

Participants at the programme commended the Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate for organising the lecture, describing it as timely, informative and relevant to families and young people.
They also praised Olowokere for what they described as a well-researched and professionally delivered presentation, saying the lecture had provided practical knowledge that could help them make better-informed decisions about fertility and family life.
One of the participants said the lecture had particularly changed his perspective on delayed marriage and childbearing.
“My son is over thirty years old and with what I have learnt today, I will talk to him to take marriage and childbearing seriously,” he said.
The participant explained that he had gained information that would help him advise members of his family, especially young people who might be postponing marriage and childbearing without fully understanding the possible reproductive consequences.
Another participant said the lecture had broadened his understanding of infertility and fertility preservation, particularly the importance of seeking professional medical advice rather than waiting until fertility challenges become severe.
The interactive question-and-answer session also gave participants including the youth Corp members the opportunity to seek clarification from the fertility expert on fertility preservation, IVF, surrogacy, delayed childbearing and other reproductive health concerns.

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Take the message home, Olowokere urges participants

At the conclusion of the lecture, Olowokere urged the participants not to keep the knowledge to themselves but to take the message back to their families, friends and communities.
He particularly encouraged them to educate young people on the importance of making informed decisions about marriage and childbearing, stressing that while some aspects of life could be postponed, fertility should not be treated casually because of the biological realities associated with advancing age.
He said the availability of assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF and surrogacy should not make individuals complacent about the need to understand the implications of delaying childbearing.
He urged the participants to share what they had learnt with their loved ones and encourage young people to make responsible and informed decisions about marriage, fertility and family planning.
The Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate said the programme formed part of its commitment to promoting public awareness and education on Maternal and Child Health, while creating platforms through which members of the community could access credible information from medical professionals.
The club stressed that sustained public education on fertility and maternal and child health was necessary to empower individuals and families to make timely and informed decisions capable of reducing preventable reproductive health challenges and improving maternal and child health.