Catholic Bishops Denounce Abuse Of IVF Treatment, Urge FG To Regulate Fertility Clinics

His words, “Now that the government has issued a new national policy on non-state schools to set national minimum standards, we want to look into the erosion of educational standards taking place in miracle examination centers across the country; where examination malpractice is facilitated in the final examinations conducted by WAEC and NECO, respectively.
“These centers undermine the integrity of the education system in Nigeria and should be called to order."
Ugorji also, further called on the Federal Government to regulate the proliferation and activities of fertility clinics in the country, adding that  although some of them were run by professionals, many were manned by unqualified and unlicensed practitioners, making clients who patronize them risk financial exploitation, medical complications, permanent infertility and even death.
On the moral implications of IVF treatment among Catholic faithful, Archbishop Ugorji regretted that even university students sell their eggs and sperms to fertility clinics as commodities for IVF procedures in the quest for money.
“It is therefore important to draw their attention to the teaching of the Church which considers IVF greatly immoral. Apart from its separation of the unitive and procreative aspect of the marital act, the Church teaches that each human being and each human embryo has an inherent dignity and a right to life and opposes any procedure that commodifies it or leads to its disposal or uses it for its verification,” he added.
Also speaking on environmental pollution and degradation in the Niger Delta region following persistent oil spillage, gas flaring and mining activities, the CBCN President advocated for intensive ecological education and government interventions for clean-ups and rehabilitation of impacted communities.
In his homily, earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene Diocese, Bishop Camillus Umo stressed the need for unity irrespective of different cultural backgrounds noting that with unity and love, issues of conflict and disharmony would be tackled in the country.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, in his remarks acknowledged the role of religious leaders in moulding character and development of the society and urged them to continue preaching messages of peace and actively discourage extremism, hatred, and divisive tendencies among members.
Senate President and chairman of the occasion, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his speech, commended the Catholic Church for complementing the efforts of government especially in areas of education and health.
Akpabio, said through such collaboration, the Federal Government has widened access to education through the Student Loan Act, just as the Akwa Bom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno urged the Church to maintain a united front for societal development. Eno commended the Catholic Church for its commitment to humanitarian service beyond the scope of government.
“Catholic church can best be described as the single largest non-governmental investor in education, healthcare, and social support across the nation,” Eno added.