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As kids we were raised to believe you went to school, got a job, got married & had kids. We now know better. This narrative is not true for many nor even wanted by some.
We were/are not equipped to handle fertility struggles.
Thread on surrogacy in Kenya.
We were/are not equipped to handle fertility struggles.
Thread on surrogacy in Kenya.
Infertility rates in Africa keep rising among those in the reproductive age. The cost of having a child conceived outside of the natural method is dear. Here it ranges from 300k-800k & isn't covered by insurance & the outcome is not guaranteed. (This does not include delivery)
Even for those who do get pregnant naturally there are very real risks. I’ve seen ladies go on bed rest due to complications from week 5 which then presents the very real issue of loss of income with a child on the way. Pre-eclampsia/ toxemia can lead to loss of life.
That said we have more & more couples turning to surrogacy as an option. Sadly we have no legal/ethical framework that governs this which of course leaves it open to abuse. In 2014 the IVF Bill now known as the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill was introduced in Parliament.
The bill was proposed by MP Mille Odhiambo and has since had various amendments made but is yet to be ratified. It proposes the establishment of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Authority that will keep a register of all people born of the technology and attendant details.
The Authority, will inspect & approve the quality of any premises offering such services including facilities & personnel involved. It'll be responsible for regulating all matters relevant to the practice of ART. It also seeks to set the minimum surrogacy age at 25yrs.
I've come across a number of surrogacy sites in Kenya run by foreigners citing the fact that we do not have a regulatory framework as advantageous for foreign nationals. The cost is between $30,000- $40,000 which is cheaper than that of many developed nations.
I wonder why the bill has yet to get assent, yet this is a growing concern & the lack of a framework does little to make the process easier or safer for the surrogate, the parents or the children. We need this enacted more than we need to allocate NYS more cash.
There’s a case where 2 babies were taken away from the surrogate & bio parents in a prominent city hospital cause they didn’t ‘understand the arrangement’. What followed was hell as the babies were placed in a children’s home & the parents had to go to court to get them back.
For those who care to follow up the matter is available on the KLR website. It is sad that all parties had to go through that just because we do not have a legal framework governing surrogacy.
These are the matters I hope to see our female reps pushing for in parliament.
These are the matters I hope to see our female reps pushing for in parliament.
