WHO WE ARE
MISSION
Rh disease is not a mystery; it is a solvable problem.
No one should lose a child to a disease we already know how to prevent. Our mission is to eliminate Rh disease as a cause of preventable newborn death and suffering everywhere.
VALUES
Equity
Every woman deserves a safe pregnancy, no matter where she lives. We work to close global gaps (Rh) in access to maternal and newborn care by supporting life-saving efforts that reach those most in need.
Partnership
We build with, not for. Sustainable change happens locally. We collaborate with communities and healthcare workers, equipping them with the tools and guidance to protect mothers and babies from Rh disease.
Integrity
We act with transparency and care, grounded in science and lived experience, to make a commitment to lasting impact. Every Rh-negative mother deserves access to the essential information and care that can save her child’s life.
OUR APPROACH
At WIRhE, we know that ending Rh disease requires more than just medicine. It demands a holistic, equity-driven approach that strengthens local systems and supports those working on the ground.
We focus on:
Community-Centered Solutions
We work directly with healthcare professionals and local organisations to increase access to lifesaving testing and care to prevent Rh disease.
Knowledge Sharing
We connect healthcare workers across regions to share data, resources, and best practices - helping building capacity and improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
Awareness and Advocacy
We raise awareness among communities, healthcare workers, and policymakers to highlight the impact of Rh disease and the urgent need for action. By sharing stories and evidence, we drive progress locally and globally.
Rh disease is not a mystery; it is a solvable problem.
No one should lose a child to a disease we already know how to prevent. Our mission is to eliminate Rh disease as a cause of preventable newborn death and suffering everywhere.
VALUES
Equity
Every woman deserves a safe pregnancy, no matter where she lives. We work to close global gaps (Rh) in access to maternal and newborn care by supporting life-saving efforts that reach those most in need.
Partnership
We build with, not for. Sustainable change happens locally. We collaborate with communities and healthcare workers, equipping them with the tools and guidance to protect mothers and babies from Rh disease.
Integrity
We act with transparency and care, grounded in science and lived experience, to make a commitment to lasting impact. Every Rh-negative mother deserves access to the essential information and care that can save her child’s life.
OUR APPROACH
At WIRhE, we know that ending Rh disease requires more than just medicine. It demands a holistic, equity-driven approach that strengthens local systems and supports those working on the ground.
We focus on:
Community-Centered Solutions
We work directly with healthcare professionals and local organisations to increase access to lifesaving testing and care to prevent Rh disease.
Knowledge Sharing
We connect healthcare workers across regions to share data, resources, and best practices - helping building capacity and improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
Awareness and Advocacy
We raise awareness among communities, healthcare workers, and policymakers to highlight the impact of Rh disease and the urgent need for action. By sharing stories and evidence, we drive progress locally and globally.
HISTORY OF WIRhE
In 2018, a series of events were organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of RhoGAM (the invention of anti D immunoglobulin). Dr Steven Spitalnik and his peers in the scientific community came to the sad realization that half of the women in the world didn’t have access to information regarding the Rh disease or the life-saving drug anti-Rh(D). On the 29th of March, 2019 the World Initiative for Rh disease Eradication (WIRhE) was born in Rome.
Shown left to right: Mario De Curtis, MD (Università di Roma La Sapienza), Rossella Miccio (EMERGENCY), Salvatore Sciacchitano, MD Ministero della Salute (Italy), Gian Carlo Di Renzo, MD, PhD (University of Perugia/FIGO), Giancarlo Liumbruno, MD (CNS, Rome), Steven Spitalnik, MD (Columbia), Gerard Visser, MD, PhD (University Medical Center-Utrecht/FIGO), Giuseppe Buonocore, MD (Università degli Studi di Siena), Pier Luigi Berti, MD (Azienda USL Valle d’Aosta), Patrice Spitalnik, MD (Columbia), Andrea Dotta, MD (Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome). Not shown: Kasper Hedegaard (Eldon)