Fundraiser Benefiting Rhesus Solution Initiative

Your donation can help a mother in Nigeria protect her child from HDFN (hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.)

This fundraiser will benefit Rhesus Solution Initiative (RSI). RSI is a respected and well known NGO in Nigeria that educates children and women of child-bearing age about why their Rh status is important and what Rh disease (maternal alloimmunization and HDFN) is. They also provide RhoGAM®  to women who are in need.

Between 2 and 5 million women in Nigeria are Rh- and at risk for developing anti-D antibodies. If a woman develops these antibodies and becomes pregnant with an Rh+ child, the antibodies can cross the placenta and destroy the fetal blood cells. This disease is called Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn. 

Untreated HDFN can lead to severe fetal anemia, fetal hydrops, hyperbilirubinemia and death. 

In countries like the US, UK, and Canada, most women have access to the medical care they need during an alloimmunized pregnancy which can include antibody screening, titer tests, ultrasounds, MCA Doppler scans and intrauterine blood transfusions.  After birth, infants with HDFN should be monitored for anemia and high bilirubin levels and treated with blood transfusions, medications and phototherapy if needed. In Nigeria, only the extremely wealthy families can afford this type of medical care.  As a result, for most Rh negative women, the only treatment available is prevention. This is why education, awareness and RhoGAM® injections are so important. RhoGAM® is an injection that stops the mother's blood from making anti-D antibodies in the first place.

RSI has been effectively advocating for the care of Rh- women for the past decade. They have multiple connections with the government, hospitals, local care centers and the traditional birth attendants many women use since they can't afford to give birth in a hospital. RSI Volunteers and health care workers go into schools, homes, markets, and other places to run Rhesus awareness programs. In schools they provide blood tests for the children and issue cards to students showing their blood status. RSI has a variety of materials, flyers, and media connections to distribute information in 5 different languages. Once women know their Rh type, RSI helps them understand the consequences of not having the RhoGAM® shot. 

Unfortunately, the majority of women in Nigeria cannot afford RhoGAM® . A single injection of RhoGAM® costs around $100 and the average annual income in Nigeria is a mere $50. Many families live in poverty, often struggling to provide enough food for their children. If women can't afford food for their family, how can they pay for RhoGAM® in order to prevent alloimmunization and HDFN? A mother should not have to decide between feeding her family or protecting her unborn baby from harm. RSI has been able to provide RhoGAM® at no cost to over 2000 women so far. 

Rhesus Solution Initiative has been working incredibly hard to improve the education of the upcoming generation and provide RhoGAM® in order to reduce the infant mortality in their country. Join us as we help RSI reach their goal: A live baby for every mother.

100% of all funds received will be given to Rhesus Solution Initiative.