Joy filled the delivery room at Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital last week as a baby girl’s first cries echoed through the ward. But this was no ordinary birth. Weighing 3.6 kilograms, the newborn became the second successful delivery through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) at Uganda’s leading public fertility care centre, signalling a growing light for couples struggling with infertility.
The proud parents, Salim Malinga and Sayeed Rukusana, beamed as they cradled their long-awaited daughter. Their five-year journey of failed conception attempts ended when a friend recommended Uganda’s first specialized reproductive health facility.
“Since we got married, we tried everything to have a child,” said Salim. “It was not until a friend encouraged us to come here that we finally found hope.”
Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital launched its IVF services in August last year. Since then, the program has shown promising results, despite the complexities associated with fertility treatments.
Dr. David Nsibambi, Head of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the hospital, noted the progress, “We began with five patients who received fully subsidized IVF cycles, and added five more who paid half the cost. Out of 28 cycles, 18 patients completed treatment. Eleven tested positive, and seven progressed to clinical pregnancies. This birth is our second successful delivery.”
He explained that while four pregnancies ended early as chemical pregnancies, those that show initial positive results but do not develop further each step forward marks a significant achievement in Uganda’s fertility care journey.
Crucially, Mulago Hospital offers IVF at a comparatively lower cost between UGX 14 million and UGX 15 million per cycle. While still out of reach for many families, this is a more affordable alternative to private clinics, where prices are often significantly higher.
Looking ahead, the hospital is preparing to introduce fertility preservation services, including egg and sperm freezing. These will benefit individuals who want to delay parenthood or need to preserve fertility due to medical treatments like chemotherapy.
“Fertility preservation is not yet available here, but we are working toward it,” Dr. Nsibambi said. “This IVF program is just the beginning. The demand for comprehensive reproductive care is much bigger than what we currently offer.”
As Uganda steps into a new era of specialized fertility treatment, Mulago Hospital’s second IVF success serves as a symbol of perseverance, science, and the power of public health innovation.