Ernestine Gwet Bell

Last updated
Ernestine Gwet Bell
Born1953
Sackbayémé, Cameroon
CitizenshipCameroon
Education University of Paris 5
OccupationGynaecologist
Notable workEnabling birth of Cameroon's first IVF baby

Ernestine Gwet-Bell (born 1953) is a Cameroonian gynaecologist who supervised the first successful in vitro fertilisation treatment in her country.

Contents

Early life

Gwet-Bell was born in 1953 in Sackbayémé. [1] Her father was initially a Catholic priest, but converted to become a Protestant pastor; her mother was a nurse and midwife. [2] One of six brothers and sisters, she studied medicine at the University of Paris 5. [1]  Her first job was at the Council of Baptist and Evangelical Churches Hospital in Bonabéri, which was affiliated to the church she attended; she also worked at the Laquintinie Hospital. [1]

Career

Gynaecology

In 1987, Gwet-Bell opened a private practice, the Odyssey Clinic, in Douala, which as of 2020 was one of Cameroon's most respected gynaecological medical facilities. [1] Alongside five other colleagues she founded Cameroon's first assisted fertility centre: Centre des Techniques de Pointe en Gynécologie-Obstétrique; her co-founders are: Berthe Bollo, Guy Sandjon, Monique Onomo, Nicole Akoung and Christian Pamy. [1] In 2016, the first public IVF centre opened in Yaounde. [3] Gwet-Bell was its director in 2020. [4] In

In 1998, Gwet-Bell supervised the birth of the first Cameroonian child born through in vitro fertilization. [1] [5] The baby was called Thommy. [6] In 2004, her team were able to successfully practice Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), an innovative technique designed in 1992 to fight against male sterility in the context of IVF. [7] [6] As of August 2007, she a'nd her team were responsible for the birth of 500 babies through in vitro fertilization. [8] She is President of the Inter-African Fertility Study, Research and Application Group, as well as the union of private doctors in Cameroon. [9] [6]

In 2019 she chaired the organisational committee of a conference which brought together gynaecologists and neonatal specialist from across Cameroon together. [10]

Autism

One of her nephews has autism and in 2005 she founded Orchidée Home, which is designed to support autistic children and their parents. [1] Two years later, in 2007, she organized the first autism congress in Cameroon. [1]

Selected publications

Personal life

Gwet Bell is married and has two daughters and a son. [1]

Related Research Articles

Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), contraception and others. It is also termed Assisted Reproductive Technology, where it entails an array of appliances and procedures that enable the realization of safe, improved and healthier reproduction. While this is not true of all people, for an array of married couples, the ability to have children is vital. But through the technology, infertile couples have been provided with options that would allow them to conceive children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted reproductive technology</span> Methods to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. This subject involves procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and/or the use of fertility medication. When used to address infertility, ART may also be referred to as fertility treatment. ART mainly belongs to the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Some forms of ART may be used with regard to fertile couples for genetic purpose. ART may also be used in surrogacy arrangements, although not all surrogacy arrangements involve ART. The existence of sterility will not always require ART to be the first option to consider, as there are occasions when its cause is a mild disorder that can be solved with more conventional treatments or with behaviors based on promoting health and reproductive habits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgeanna Seegar Jones</span> American gynecologist

Georgeanna Seegar Jones was an American reproductive endocrinologist who with her husband, Howard W. Jones, pioneered in vitro fertilization in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonabéri</span> Place in Littoral Region, Cameroon

Bonabery is a district of Douala, the largest city and economic capital of Cameroon. It is located on the right bank of the Wouri River, opposite the districts of Akwa, Deido and Bonanjo. Bonabery is home to many industries, markets, and transport facilities. It is also a cultural hub, with a vibrant music scene and a rich history. It is located on the western side of the harbour across the Wouri River from the larger port of Douala.

Francis Bebey was a Cameroonian musicologist, writer, composer, and broadcaster.

Thérèse Kuoh-Moukoury is a prominent Cameroonian feminist and author. Kuoh-Moukoury was born in 1938 in Douala, Cameroon. Her father was Jacques Kuoh-Moukouri, a prominent Cameroonian writer and diplomat. After primary school in Cameroon, she attended secondary school and higher education in Paris. She served as President of the Union of African and Malagasy Women.

Sackbayeme is a rural city in Cameroon. It is the birthplace of gynaecologist Ernestine Gwet Bell, who supervised the successful birth of Cameroon's first IVF baby, as well as footballers Gaëtan Bong and Jacques Songo'o.

Reproductive surgery is surgery in the field of reproductive medicine. It can be used for contraception, e.g. in vasectomy, wherein the vasa deferentia of a male are severed, but is also used plentifully in assisted reproductive technology. Reproductive surgery is generally divided into three categories: surgery for infertility, in vitro fertilization, and fertility preservation.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to obstetrics:

Female fertility is affected by age and is a major fertility factor for women. A woman's fertility is in generally good quality from the late teens to early thirties, although it declines gradually over time. Around 35, fertility is noted to decline at a more rapid rate. At age 45, a woman starting to try to conceive will have no live birth in 50–80 percent of cases. Menopause, or the cessation of menstrual periods, generally occurs in the 40s and 50s and marks the cessation of fertility, although age-related infertility can occur before then. The relationship between age and female fertility is sometimes referred to as a woman's "biological clock."

The history of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) goes back more than half a century. In 1959 the first birth in a nonhuman mammal resulting from IVF occurred, and in 1978 the world's first baby conceived by IVF was born. As medicine advanced, IVF was transformed from natural research to a stimulated clinical treatment. There have been many refinements in the IVF process, and today millions of births have occurred with the help of IVF all over the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kah Walla</span> Cameroonian politician

Edith Kahbang Walla, popularly known as Kah Walla, is a Cameroonian politician, entrepreneur and social activist. She went into politics in 2007 with the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the then main Cameroonian opposition party and was then elected into the municipal council of Douala I. In 2010, she resigned from SDF following a divergence over strategy and declared her intention to run for the 2011 presidential election on October 23, 2010. On April 30, 2011, she was elected as the president of the Cameroon People's Party (CPP) and party candidate for 2011 presidential election.

Denise Laurence Djengué Epoté, is a Cameroonian journalist and the head of African reporting for the French television network, TV5 Monde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reniss</span> Musical artist

Kien Rennise Nde, known by her stage name Reniss, is a Cameroonian singer and songwriter. Reniss sings in English, French, Pidgin, and Ngeumba. Reniss became well-known in the African music scene after releasing her music video "La Sauce" on May 6, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danièle Diwouta-Kotto</span>

Danièle Diwouta-Kotto, is a Cameroonian designer and architect, member of the Cameroon architects association (ONAC) and founder of the V.A.A. Villes et Architectures d'Afrique organization.

Sarah Martins da SilvaFRCOG is a British gynaecologist and researcher specialising in male infertility. Martins da Silva is a Clinical Reader in reproductive medicine at the University of Dundee. She also works as an honorary consultant gynaecologist at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, specialising in fertility problems and assisted conception. She was named one of the BBC's "100 Women of 2019" for her contribution to fertility science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maximilienne Ngo Mbe</span> Cameroonian human rights campaigner

Maximilienne Chantal Ngo Mbe is a Cameroonian human-rights campaigner. She leads the Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC). She was given the International Women of Courage Award in 2021.

Catharyn Johanna Stern is a clinical associate professor, and gynaecologist at Waverley Private Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to gynaecology, reproductive medicine and fertility research. Stern has been a member of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) member for 23 years. Her award was for her services to gynaecology, to reproductive medicine and fertility research, and to the community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nandita P. Palshetkar</span> Indian gynaecologist and medical doctor

Nandita P. Palshetkar is an Indian Gynecologist who specializes in in vitro fertilisation and infertility. She is the elected president of Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, in 2019. She is also the first vice president of Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Audrey Ngako</span>

Diane Audrey Ngako is a Cameroonian businesswoman. She is the president and founder of Omenkart Group, and she shares her passion for contemporary art through her publishing house, Baköu, and her podcast "Si Maman M'avait dit".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 jeremy, rich (2012), Akyeampong, Emmanuel K; Gates, Henry Louis (eds.), "Gwet-Bell, Ernestine", Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001, ISBN   978-0-19-538207-5 , retrieved 2021-01-18
  2. Diarra, Abdoulaye (2012-12-26). "Dr Ernestine Gwet Bell, à l'origine du premier bébé né in vitro de l'Afrique centrale". INFO AFRIQUE (in French). Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  3. Kovacs, Gabor; Brinsden, Peter; DeCherney, Alan (2018-06-14). In-Vitro Fertilization: The Pioneers' History. Cambridge University Press. p. 245. ISBN   978-1-108-42785-2.
  4. "Au Cameroun, une clinique contre l'infertilité et ses stigmates". LEFIGARO (in French). 6 January 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  5. "L'Afrique, continent le plus touché par l'infertilité". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  6. 1 2 3 Siewe, Alex (31 January 2005). "Ernestine Gwet-Bell".
  7. NSEUMI LÉA, FLORINE. "Procréation médicalement assistée: Les hommes stériles secourus".
  8. Marion Obam (29 August 2007). "Cameroon: Ernestine Gwet Bell, the mechanics of embryos" . allAfrica . Retrieved on March 13, 2018
  9. "Ernestine Gwet Bell". archive.wikiwix.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  10. "Improving health of women and infants : Gynecologists to meet in Douala". www.cameroon-tribune.cm. Retrieved 2021-01-20.