Today at FIGO World Congress in Rio de Janiero Gerard H.A.Visser and Gian Carlo Di Renzo presented the FIGO position paper: The continuing burden of Rh disease, 50 years after the introduction of anti-D globulin  on behalf of FIGO’s Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health Committee.

Hemolytic Disease is often fatal for the fetus or newborn and can cause late miscarriage, stillbirth, early post-natal death and life-long disabilities in surviving babies.

Fifty years ago, the discovery of Anti-D Immunoglobulins was a medical breakthrough that resulted in a dramatic reduction in the incidence of HDFN in many parts of the world.

RhoGAM, a drug developed in the 1960s by Columbia University physicians, prevents one of the most severe and devastating diseases affecting fetuses and newborn babies and is still in use today

You’d be forgiven for having never heard of Rh disease. The disease has essentially been eradicated in high-income countries. But for centuries until the late 1960s, the disease was one of the most severe and devastating conditions for newborns. In the United States, it killed approximately 10,000 newborns a year and caused brain damage in many more.

Although the factors that cause Rh disease are still present,

No fewer than 34 million women are Rhesus Negative, a Rhesus solution campaigner, Mrs Funmilayo Banire, has said.

This, she said, accounted for the high rate of still births and loss of babies due to Rhesus incompatibility. Rhesus negative is the absence of the factor of the surface of the red blood cells of some people. About 16% of the human population is said to be Rhesus negative.

Rhesus incompatibility, Mrs Banire, founder of Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI), said had no link with witchcraft or abiku

Speaking at a seminar to mark RSI’s10th anniversary in Lagos.

TRAFFIC stood still for them as they walked from Isheri-Osun to Ikotun on Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State on Saturday to create awareness about the dangers of rhesus negative.

About 84 per cent of the human population with rhesus factor are said to be rhesus positive and the 16 per cent without are said to be rhesus negative.

It is necessary to determine if a person is rhesus positive or negative before a blood transfusion.

The crowd was attracted by the music being played from a mobile van by a Disc Jockey (DJ) accompanied by people in branded shirts and caps.

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI), will tomorrow stage a walk to create awareness on Rhesus factor and genotype in Lagos.

The walk, according to RSI Founder/President Mrs Olufunmilayo Banire, is to sensitise the public on the importance of knowing their rhesus factors, blood group and genotype as well as to promote physical fitness.

She said: “Our primary objective is to create and promote awareness on blood group, Rhesus factor and genotype. We focus on rhesus negative mothers by helping them to achieve satisfying and healthy deliveries of live babies through Awareness, Counselling, Intervention, Training,

We cordially invite you to the 6th edition of WALK for LIFE “Awareness and fitness walk to mark 2016 Rhesus Factor Day” on Saturday, 14th May, 2016

Starting Point: Isheri Roundabout, and end at Igando/Ikotun LCDA Secretriat

Time: 7am

Contact the Project Coordinator for more info: 08027563234, 08069119379, ranimbe@gmail.com