At NORDICA, renowned fertility and fibroid doctor, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, is providing safe treatment options to a generation of women who may never fully understand or appreciate the physical and emotional trauma associated with fibroid operations back then. And the doctor is bringing swift healing to women through High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, HIFU, a non-invasive medical procedure that uses focused ultrasound waves to generate heat and destroy fibroid tissue without the need for surgery.
By Sylvester Asoya
Dr. Abayomi Ajayi is a lively medical practitioner who brings enthusiasm, humanism, revolution and technology to his medical practice. His work, currently at the intersection of medicine, technology and humanity is reshaping the future of healthcare in Nigeria and even beyond. And one cannot argue with the fact that this unusual doctor’s innovation, courage, warmth and personal experiences are fueling his mission that aims at improving the healthcare system in Africa. Therefore, it is no surprise that this mission hinges on his dedication in addressing critical conditions like fibroids, generally believed to be non-cancerous growths that develop in or on the uterus. Make no mistake about it, reaching this enviable height was a dream come true. But it has also been a long and challenging path for Dr. Abayomi Ajayi.
For this doctor, a single, though tragic, incident served as the inspiration for this extraordinary scientific, safe, revolutionary and painless method of treating fibroids. And that misfortune is at the centre of his remarkable story of triumph and singlemindedness, driven by relentless focus. That tragedy that moved Dr. Ajayi so profoundly, and inspired his lifelong mission to cure the condition was the death of May Ellen Ezekiel Mofe-Damijo (MEE), a colourful Nigerian editor and magazine publisher, on 23 March 1996 during a fibroid operation. Shaken by MEE’s unfortunate and avoidable death, and coupled with the nightmare women like MEE face on a daily basis, Dr. Ajayi vowed to spend his entire career and life researching and fighting for a cure for fibroids. Currently, he stands tall in the West African sub-region as a pioneer in the area of non-invasive surgery for fibroid patients. “From the beginning, my mission has been to save women from dying needlessly during fibroid operations. And truly, I have not looked back since then. I believe, like most forward-looking doctors, that in this modern age, it is unacceptable for women to lose their lives to a condition that is entirely treatable. And for me, witnessing such injustice at the time, was a catalyst for action. We will continue to advance our research and treatment for fibroids. This is our enduring commitment, and we shall remain focused for the rest of our lives.”
According to Dr. Ajayi, factors such as anesthesia, obesity, heavy bleeding during fibroid operation, infection, and other complications sometimes put patients, especially the elderly ones, at risk of death. So, the doctor needed to circumvent these old and traditional processes to save lives.
Today, this renowned fertility and fibroid doctor is providing safe treatment options to a generation of women who may never fully understand or appreciate the physical and emotional trauma associated with fibroid operations back then. And the doctor is bringing swift healing to women through High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, HIFU, a non-invasive medical procedure that uses focused ultrasound waves to generate heat and destroy fibroid tissue without the need for surgery. At the hospital’s different locations in Lagos, Abuja and Asaba, Dr. Ajayi oversees directly and indirectly, these HIFU facilities, the first of its kind in West Africa, a region where women continually struggle with Uterine fibroids because of genetic predisposition and hormonal factors.
It is easy to measure the success rate of HIFU because patient outcomes are clear and consistent. The procedures key advantages include but not limited to the fact that it is:
- Non-invasive.
- There is minimal Pain.
- No Blood Transfusion.
- Fast Recovery.
- Uterus-Preserving.
- No Complications.
- High Success Rate.
- Outpatient Procedure.
- Improved Quality of Life.
- And the patient can go home, and even return to work after 74 hours.
So far, NORDICA has successfully carried out about one thousand fibroid treatments without any fatality. This, among other things, may also account for the large number of diaspora patients who come to Nigeria specifically for these procedures.
In other words, outside NORDICA Fertility Centre’s reputation as a world-class facility, the excellent care and the extremely low fatality rate, which is its primary advantage, it is also evident that there is a notable increase in the number of patients from different corners of the world; and this is gratifying. No doubt, Dr. Ajayi is a highly sought-after physician, valued not only for his innovation and technological expertise but also for embodying the face and future of modern science and health care. Mindful of this global recognition, acceptance and relevance, Dr. Ajayi is at the moment, training and retraining young physicians from far and near, who will continue to uphold this tradition of innovation and excellence.
However, despite his achievements, this doctor believes it is not yet time to celebrate, as Nigeria, and Africa at large, still face many serious challenges in the health sector. That is the reason all the plaques, awards, certificates and recognitions displayed in his office hold little or no significance for him. “To be honest with you, I am indifferent to all these awards. And the reasons are not far to seek. If I may ask: what is next? What should we do next to be like other countries that pay serious attention to issues of healthcare? Let me shock you, I did not attend most of those awards ceremonies, not because of pride, but because there are so many things we are not doing right as a people in the health sector. Nigeria, I must confess, is 50 years behind the world in the health sector. But I am happy that with HIFU, we are closing the gap gradually, even though we still have a long way to go. As a matter of fact, we really need to be very serious about healthcare because we have a long way to go. That is why we should focus more on low-hanging fruits before tackling the more complex challenges. If you ask me, one of the low-hanging fruits is HIFU. That is why we are staying focused without any distractions.”
Understanding fibroids can sometimes present contradictory perspectives because they behave differently in different people. Since fibroids are sometimes usually not problematic, some individuals may have them without even knowing, and here lies the contradiction. However, the symptoms of fibroids are generally clear and unambiguous when they do appear. And these symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, frequent urination, and, in some cases, difficulty getting pregnant.
However, according to Dr. Ajayi, having fibroids does not always cause infertility, but fibroids can sometimes be associated with it. The good news is that NORDICA’s treatment options are comprehensive, progressive, meticulously detailed, and based on solid science and technology. “Sometimes, we do not need to treat, we just observe. And if at the end of the day, the person does not have fibroid, we will continue to observe. This observation is equally relevant for people who are close to menopause or already in the menopausal stage. As I said earlier, with HIFU, it is the machine that is at work. We do not even touch the patient because everything is already programmed. Yes, I am currently the only one who performs this procedure in West Africa, but it is important to note that it is not reserved for the wealthy alone. While it is technology-driven and therefore not very cheap, it is still within the reach of an average person because it is ultimately about health and wellbeing.
There is something about this doctor that exudes vision, mission, and excellence, and this is clearly verifiable from his personal life, academic journey, experiences and professional career. Another interesting aspect of Abayomi Ajayi’s life as a medical doctor is that he is not only a man of many parts, but also a man of many firsts. And this champion of reproductive care is leaving no stone unturned in his determination to change the way issues of fibroids and fertility are addressed in Nigeria. Some of his groundbreaking inventions include the following:
- First to introduce the IMSI Machine in West Africa (Advanced sperm selection technology for improved treatment outcomes)
- First to perform Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD0 in Nigeria.
- First to introduce Cryopreservation and Ovarian Tissue Preservation in Nigeria.
- First to introduce High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for fibroid treatment in West Africa.
- First to introduce Acupuncture as part of routine fertility treatment in Nigeria.
- First to institutionalize Fertility Counselling Services. This service ensures that patients receive structured emotional and psychological support during fertility journey.
Born on March 16, 1961, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos, and graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan, and earned his Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons. Dr. Ajayi received IVF training at globally recognized institutions like the famous Iscare for Assisted Reproduction in Bratislava, the Institute of Human Reproductive Symbion, and Copenhagen University Herlev Hospital in Denmark. Dr. Ajayi’s professional journey as a medical doctor began at Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, where he served as a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology and coordinator of Outpatients Services. He also worked as a part-time consultant to several organizations, including Chevron/Texaco Nigeria Plc. He is married with children, one of who is also a medical doctor.
