Nordica Launches Non-invasive Fibroid Centre to Boost Fertility in Women

Nordica has launched a first-of-its-kind high intensity focused ultrasound Fibroid Care Centre in Lagos State to treat fibroids and boost fertility rate in women across Nigeria and West Africa. Rebecca Ejifoma reports

For women like Patricia Omoke, Dr. Joy Oluwatobi, Bolaji Olusoji, and Celina Esowe, who lived with multiple fibroids for years, Nordica has given them a breath of fresh air with its newly unveiled non-invasive method of eliminating fibroids- the High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

According to research, fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can develop during a woman’s childbearing years. While the cause of fibroids remains unexplainable, medical experts have warned that risk factors include a family history of fibroids, obesity or early onset of puberty.

Today, Nordica Fibroid Care Centre carries out the HIFU procedure, which requires no body cutting, leaves no scar, and records no loss of blood. Rather it is attributed to quick recovery on the same day of procedure, low complications, and preserves fertility. The fibroid gets melted with the use of high intensity ultrasound waves to generate localised heat to destroy individual fibroid cells. And this is the first of its kind in the entire West Africa.

In the words of 38 years old Omoke, who is among the three beneficiaries of Nordica HIFU, “All I felt about the treatment was pure excitement. It’s a good thing for our generation of those who have fibroids.”

Just like about 20 to 80 per cent of African-American women who develop fibroids before age 50 according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Omoke described her journey as anything but fun. “It has been hectic and difficult for me. I was diagnosed with fibroid in 2018. Since then, it has been a problem for me. I was scared of surgery. I never wanted something that would cut me open and the complications and possible deaths that follow.

Omoke, who is a unmarried, explained: “Some people even came up with fibroids years after surgery. So I opted for substitutes. Although there were significant benefits, at the end of the day the fibroid wasn’t dealt with. Until December 2020 when I came across HIFU through the internet while searching for solutions.”

For fear of confusing and contradicting solutions, the medical doctor kept her health status with a few members of her family. “The few instances I made it known to people, they suggested surgery. That was a pressure I didn’t want; having to go through what I didn’t want.”

Now, 27 years old Oluwatobi is a beneficiary. She was diagnosed with fibroid in 2013 which, according to her, brought her life to an excruciating halt. “My life practically came to standstill. I had to resign from work in a private hospital. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t go out or come in at will. I had to organise my life around my cycle.”

Four years after the diagnosis, Oluwatunbi experienced heavy bleeding in 365 days. She narrated to newsmen, “In 2017, I bled everyday. It was that serious. But then I went into research and had to adjust my diet. Still the symptoms were present during menstruation. I had to come in for surgery.”

“I read online that Nordica was offering HIFU technology. I got in touch with them, paid my bill, and it was worth every dime. It was seamless, no scar, no cut, non-invasive. I went in for surgery on a Tuesday and walked out same day after the procedure”

While Omoke and Oluwatobi are two unmarried ladies who lived with this female-killer disease, fibroids is said to trigger infertility in many women. However, Mrs. Olusoji, a widow, was one of the lucky women living with uterine fibroid and has three children already.

Esowe, is a tailor, whose fibroid journey began in 2017. For her, despite her constant use of herbal concoction like a few other women with the same health challenge, she saw no improvement until she stumbled on Nordica HIFU on Facebook.

In the words of the Nordica MD/CEO, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, for quite a number of women, these fibroids have contributed to their inability to conceive babies, thereby affecting their fertility and its attendant challenges emotionally and psychologically.

Hence, the Fibroid Care Centre is the response to the yearnings of a teeming population of women suffering from uterine fibroids. This condition, Ajayi noted, has been known to greatly impact on the quality of life of sufferers resulting in loss of man hours, impact on their homes, careers, jobs and relationships across all spheres of life. “It is a specialist healthcare facility focused on giving Nigerian women best-in-class minimally and non-invasive solutions to their fibroid challenges”.

For most women suffering from fibroids, Ajayi highlighted acknowledged their fears for open surgery, which was the only option in taking out the fibroid. He expressed, “Today, Nigerians have a choice of our various Endoscopic services or pin-hole surgeries as they are commonly referred to or the new-age non-invasive solution using HIFU”.

In a tour of the HIFU facility, the MD explained that the procedure uses ultrasound rays to literally burn off the fibroids without any invasive method. He hinted that patients can walk in, have the procedure done and, in a few hours return to their normal lives.

On if this new technology is something to spin a positive story for the country, the medical doctor expounded, “Nigeria, by virtue of this new technological acquisition, has joined a unique league of 29 countries in the world where this feat is possible. HIFU is a scientific breakthrough which is available in 29 counties and about 350 Centres globally.

“On the African continent, HIFU is available in only three countries: South Africa, Egypt and now Nigeria. The HIFU company of Chongqing, China is very optimistic that this relationship between themselves and Nordica will further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and China.”

At the Fibroid Care Centre, their ultimate goal is seeing women live more fulfilled lives despite their challenge with fibroids. To ensure it brings this dream to reality, “We decided to give three lucky women free treatment and I believe one of them will be sharing her story with us today”.

In their quest to make the technology available to medical doctors, the centre also embarked on a free training for gynaecologists, who indicated interest. According to Ajayi, “this is in furtherance of its desire to share knowledge, as it has continuously done through two of our initiatives”.

Speaking at the official launch of the centre, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, described the HIFU technology as a welcome development that will greatly facilitate the treatment of uterine fibroid management.

Being a normal growth that develops in women’s uteruses, Sanwo-Olu said fibroids sometimes can be large and can cause severe abdominal pain, heavy periods, pelvic pain, frequent urination, constipation, back pain, painful sex and even delay in childbearing, among others.

The first lady, represented by Dr. Omobolade Johnson, further expressed excitement over the many benefits of the technology, which will considerably improve on health indices in the state as well as Nigeria, especially as it concerns screening for fibroids, diagnoses, treatment, care, and support.

Others present at the launch included Mr. Adetokunbo Adesanya (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nordica Fertility Centre; Mrs. Tola Ajayi (Clinic Manager, Nordica Fertility Centre); Chief Medical Director Federal Medical Centre Ebutte Metta, Dr Adedamola Dada, representating the Minister of State for Health; and the Senior Assistant on health, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, representing the state governor.