HARARE, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The first baby to be born through in vitro fertilization since the procedure was reintroduced in Zimbabwe last year at the Avenues Clinic in Harare has been born and is doing well, state-run news agency New Ziana reported Wednesday.
The baby was born at 29 weeks on April 2 this year and weighed just over one kilogram, according to the baby's mother who wishes to remain anonymous.
Although born prematurely and placed in an incubator with oxygen, the baby did not require any assistance with breathing, said the mother.
The mother, who had been trying to have a baby since she was married about five years ago, is hoping to be able to take him home this week. He needs to gain another 20 grams in weight before he can be discharged.
In vitro fertilization, where a woman's eggs and her husband's sperm are brought together outside the womb in a dish in a laboratory, was successfully pioneered at the Avenues Clinic in the 1980s and 1990s by Dr. Tony Robertson.
However, it was discontinued early this millennium. It was reintroduced at the Avenues Clinic last year by a team led by Dr. Tinovimba Mhlanga with assistance from Dr. Robertson, who is now retired.
The baby's mother is overjoyed to have given birth to a healthy baby.
"My husband and I had been trying to have a baby since we got married in 2012 without success. I had tried everything, including herbal medicines, to get pregnant. However, I had ovarian cysts and blocked fallopian tubes. It seemed vitro fertilization was the only answer," she said.
She added she would like to donate eggs to the program for the benefit of women who are unable to produce eggs themselves.
