Photo Feature

Bringing smiles to proud parents

Technology has managed to eliminate or at least reduce to a great extent many barriers that prevent us from enjoying the good things in life. Infertility is one of those barriers that not only affects the couples' physical and psychological health but also disturbs marital life putting an unnecessary social stigma. The birth of Louise Brown in 1978 through In vitro fertilisation (otherwise known as 'test-tube baby') in the United Kingdom paved the way for many childless couples to fulfil their dream of becoming proud parents. Since then IVF has exploded in popularity, with as many as 1% of all births now being conceived in-vitro around the world.

World Infertility Month is being observed this month (June 2006) with an objective to inform and educate childless couples about the options they have in order to overcome infertility. The Centre for Assisted Reproduction (CARe) established the first IVF centre in Bangladesh in 1999. The first IVF babies Heera, Moni and Mukta were born at this centre on May 30, 2001. In three years the 100th successful IVF baby Nazari Mursalin was born on June 9, 2004.

Photos: Zahidul I Khan

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