Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, a Ghanaian gender advocate and founder of Xoese Ghana, launched a virtual clinic in 2024 to provide practical medical and financial support to couples facing infertility stigma. This initiative aims to address the widespread societal devaluation and discrimination experienced by those unable to conceive, particularly women, across Ghana and similar African nations. The Xoese Fertility and Maternal Support (Xoese FMS) virtual clinic partners with medical professionals and healthcare institutions to offer accessible and affordable fertility treatments.
Understanding the Weight of Infertility Stigma
Infertility stigma is a significant global issue, affecting approximately one in six individuals. In many societies, including Ghana, this condition is often viewed not as a medical challenge but as a personal or social failure. This perspective disproportionately burdens women, whose identity and societal worth are frequently tied to motherhood, leading to shame, isolation, and emotional distress.
The cultural expectation for women to conceive and give birth regardless of personal circumstances or medical conditions fuels this stigma. This deep-rooted belief system contributes to discrimination and emotional hardship for couples struggling with infertility.
Emelia Aryee’s Shift to Practical Intervention
Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, an award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience in gender advocacy, initially engaged in advocacy work against infertility stigma through her NGO, Xoese Ghana. Through her interactions with affected couples, she recognized that advocacy alone was insufficient.
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