Dr. Andabati Gozanga, fertility, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and laparoscopy lead specialist at Bethany Women and Fertility Hospital, has rejected the proposal to limit the donation of gametes (eggs and sperm) to people only over 18 years old.
According to Gozanga, this will prevent children diagnosed with medical conditions such as cancer from having children in the future because the treatment they receive may affect their fertility.
He made these remarks in parliament on April 30, 2024, in response to the provision in clause 17(1) of The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2023, which prohibits a registered medical practitioner from harvesting a gamete from a person under the age of 18, with clause 17(2) proposing a 10-year prison sentence.
“In some circumstances, such as those with cancer, it is recommended that they maintain their eggs or sperm; if we limit this operation to those 18 and older, we will be unable to assist such individuals. I believe we need to add something to provide for that group because these people use the same storage services and are not donating, but you still need to remove the eggs and sperm for harvesting before they go for cancer treatment,” Dr. Gozanga said.
He further stated that it was wise to give those children the choice to have their gametes or even biological tissues stored so that they could safely undergo their chemotherapy and later have their children. For example, people who have sickle cells have to undergo a bone marrow transplant and be given chemotherapy to destroy their bone marrow, and then they replace the bone marrow.
Gozanga was also opposed to the proposal of having the activities of fertility clinics regulated by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council, citing the lack of representation of fertility experts at the Council. Saying that the partners in fertility aren’t represented on the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council and wonders how to be able to identify the key things to look at in terms of regulation.
Parliament’s Health Committee was scrutinizing, the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2023 with civil society group, Centre for Policy Analysis who were giving their views on the Bill.