The Hangout: How South Africa’s brave volunteers are breaking the silence on infertility

The Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa, known as IFAASA, is a non profit organisation established in 2013 with one heartfelt purpose: to support, educate and advocate for individuals and families navigating infertility and pregnancy or baby loss.

At its core, IFAASA exists to remind people that they are not alone, and that their experiences are valid and deserving of care and understanding.

As February marks Reproductive Health Month, I felt it was important to share information that may reach someone who needs it, offer comfort where there is uncertainty, or gently guide someone towards the support and advice they have been searching for. It’s also a chance to shine a light on the incredible people working quietly behind the scenes, making life a little easier and a little lighter for those walking some of the hardest journeys imaginable.

Over the years, I have spoken with and interviewed Michelle, Saskia and many of the remarkable individuals who form part of the IFAASA community. Through education, advocacy and compassionate care, IFAASA works tirelessly to raise national awareness of infertility as a medical disease, improve reproductive health literacy, and advocate for fair and equitable access to fertility care across both public and private healthcare sectors.

A vital part of this work also focuses on supporting healthcare professionals, helping them develop the sensitivity, understanding and skills needed to care for patients during some of the most emotionally vulnerable moments of their lives.

Through public awareness campaigns, professional training and community education, IFAASA is committed to ensuring that infertility and pregnancy loss are no longer treated as silent or misunderstood experiences. The organisation is led by CEO Saskia Williams and Creative Director Michelle Groenewald and operates entirely on a volunteer basis.

All initiatives and campaigns are made possible through sponsorship support, which funds IFAASA’s advocacy and operational work. Their compassion helps make difficult days feel more bearable and long journeys feel a little less lonely, because having someone who truly understands can make all the difference.

One of IFAASA’s most important advocacy messages is simple but vital- infertility is a disease. Although it’s recognised as such by the World Health Organization, it remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed and undersupported in South Africa.

IFAASA continues to advocate for proper recognition of infertility as a legitimate medical condition, improved healthcare and medical aid coverage, greater awareness of the emotional, physical and financial impact it has on individuals and couples, and an end to the stigma and silence that so often surround infertility and pregnancy loss.

A significant milestone in this journey was IFAASA’s role in the introduction of Assisted Reproductive Technology cover by Discovery Health in 2021. This followed a seven-year advocacy effort that led to formal discussions between Discovery and IFAASA CEO Saskia Williams. Working alongside specialists from the Southern African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy, a framework was developed and implemented that has helped improve access to fertility treatment for many families.

Each February, during Reproductive Health Month, IFAASA leads national awareness initiatives focused on education, early intervention and informed decision making. These initiatives deepen understanding of fertility health for both women and men, explore the effects of age, lifestyle and chronic illness, challenge common myths, and highlight ongoing gaps in access to care across different communities.

As part of Reproductive Health Month 2026, IFAASA will host an in-depth information session in Rivonia, Johannesburg, on February 28, from 9am to 1pm. Designed to empower individuals, couples and healthcare stakeholders, the session will offer practical, evidence-based insights into fertility health, common causes of infertility, the emotional impact of fertility struggles, and guidance on navigating the healthcare system and understanding available options.

Alongside advocacy and education, IFAASA also offers a specialised Perinatal Bereavement Training Programme for healthcare professionals supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss. 

The programme focuses on miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal loss, and aims to improve communication, care and emotional support during moments of deep grief. It is designed for nurses, counsellors, midwives and allied healthcare professionals and covers compassionate communication, cultural and ethical considerations, practical real-world scenarios and self-care strategies, all with the goal of creating kinder and more compassionate care environments.

The training is facilitated by Michelle Groenewald, a qualified Perinatal Bereavement Worker with more than seven years’ experience supporting bereaved families, and Saskia Williams, CEO of IFAASA, qualified Life Coach and bereaved mother.

Together, they bring both professional knowledge and lived experience, offering a deeply human and grounded approach to care, loss and advocacy.

This work matters because families never forget how they are treated at the moment of loss. The warmth, respect and compassion shown by healthcare professionals often become lasting memories. IFAASA exists to help ensure those memories are shaped by dignity, kindness and care.

As of January 2026, this training has reached approximately 500 healthcare workers nationwide, contributing to a more compassionate future for families navigating loss. It’s often not an easy topic to discuss, bring up or talk about but there are brave warriors out there who are fighting for those who can’t and are ready to support and spread love and knowledge in any and every way they can.

For more information or support, IFAASA can be contacted at [email protected] or www.ifaasa.co.za