A 70-year-old Ugandan woman has celebrated the birth of twins, a feat deemed miraculous by her. Safina Namukwaya expressed her joy at the arrival of the twins, born on Wednesday at a medical facility in Kampala. The elderly mother had undergone fertility treatment at the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre in the capital.
Dr. Edward Tamale Sali, a fertility specialist, revealed that the mother had opted for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) using a donor egg and her partner’s sperm. This groundbreaking event highlights the advances in assisted reproductive technologies, making it possible for individuals to experience parenthood later in life.
“This is extraordinary achievement, delivering twins to Africa’s oldest mother at 70 years,” Sali told AFP.
The babies were born prematurely at 31 weeks and placed in incubators, the BBC reported.
The hospital touted the “historic event” on its Facebook page, posting a video interview with the mother and doctor. a feat deemed miraculous
Dr. Edward Tamale Sali, the founder of the Women’s Hospital International and Fertility Centre, confirmed that the 70-year-old Ugandan woman, Safina Namukwaya, and her newborn twins (a boy and a girl) are currently under the care of the medical facility and are in good health.
Expressing her immense joy, Namukwaya, who resides in Masaka, about 75 miles west of Kampala, emphasized the miraculous nature of giving birth to twins at the age of 70. Despite societal expectations and perceptions of her age, she spoke of the incredible joy and gratitude she felt for this unexpected blessing.
Namukwaya shared that she had previously given birth to a girl in 2020, overcoming societal skepticism and derogatory comments about her ability to conceive. Her first husband passed away in 1992, leaving her childless, and she met her current partner in 1996.
However, she expressed disappointment that her partner had not visited her since she came to the hospital for the delivery. Speculating on his absence, she suggested that men might be reluctant to acknowledge the birth of twins due to potential increased responsibilities. Namukwaya conveyed her feelings, stating, “Maybe he is not happy that I delivered twins because men don’t want to know you are carrying more than one child in a womb for fear of maybe responsibilities that come with that.”