The Anambra State House of Assembly has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Health and that of Information and Value Reformation to ensure the accessibility, affordability and public awareness of Rho(D) Immune Globulin, commonly known as Rho GAM, for the prevention of Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (HDN).
The House made the call on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 during plenary following a motion moved by the member representing Ogbaru one Constituency, Hon. Nobel Igwe.
Leading the motion, Igwe explained that HDN, also known as erythroblastosis fetalis, is a potentially severe condition that can occur when an Rh-negative pregnant woman becomes sensitised to Rh-positive red blood cells from her fetus.
He said the condition can result in the mother’s immune system producing antibodies that attack the red blood cells of an Rh-positive fetus or newborn, potentially causing severe anaemia, jaundice and other serious complications.
According to him, Rh sensitisation can occur during pregnancy or childbirth, as well as following miscarriage, abortion, ectopic pregnancy or other events involving mixing of maternal and fetal blood.
Igwe noted that medical practice has established the effectiveness of Rho(D) Immune Globulin in preventing Rh sensitisation when administered to eligible Rh-negative women at recommended stages of pregnancy and after potential exposure to Rh-positive blood.
He, however, expressed concern that limited awareness, inadequate access to antenatal care and the cost of Rho(D) Immune Globulin could place some pregnant women, particularly those in rural communities, at risk.
He said, “Despite the highly preventable nature of this condition, thousands of pregnant individuals across the nation remain at risk due to a profound lack of public awareness regarding blood group compatibility, limited access to prenatal screening and the prohibitive cost of RhoGAM injections in underserved and rural communities.”
Igwe added that preventable infant mortality and severe neonatal complications could impose emotional and financial burdens on families while also placing additional pressure on the public healthcare system.
Supporting the motion, lawmakers including Hon. Augustine Ike (Nnewi North), Hon. Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North II), Hon. Golden Iloh (Ihiala II) and Hon. Anayo Okpalaeke (Aguata I) called for increased public awareness and improved access to screening and preventive treatment.
They noted that some women, particularly in rural communities, do not attend antenatal clinics and may give birth at home, making early detection and preventive interventions more difficult.
Presiding over the plenary, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, supported the motion and urged the House Committee on Health to engage the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency on ways of reducing the financial burden associated with the preventive treatment.
Udeze also called on lawmakers to take responsibility for disseminating information on Rh incompatibility and the prevention of HDN to their constituents.
“We as lawmakers also have a role to play, and I am encouraging us all to disseminate this information to our constituents, including during town hall meetings,” the Speaker said.
The House thereafter adjourned plenary to Thursday.
