Expectant mothers in Saint Lucia are set to receive additional support under the Universal Health Coverage programme, with RhoGAM and Coombs testing now being added to the Maternal and Child Health Services package at no cost.
The new services took effect on November 1 and are aimed particularly at pregnant women with Rh-negative blood, who may face complications if their baby has Rh-positive blood.
In a video statement, Saint Lucia Universal Health Service Director Dr Alisha Eugene-Ford said women with blood types such as O negative, A negative, B negative or AB negative may be advised by their midwife or obstetrician-gynaecologist to receive RhoGAM during pregnancy and again shortly after delivery.
“RhoGAM is a medication that is given during your pregnancy and a few days after you deliver,” she explained.
The injection helps prevent the mother from developing antibodies that could attack the baby’s red blood cells and create problems in the current pregnancy or future pregnancies.
“But RhoGAM is expensive,” Dr Eugene-Ford added.
One dose costs about EC$800, and some women may need more than one during the same pregnancy.
Under the expanded UHC package, that cost will now be covered, along with Coombs testing, which is used to check whether a pregnant woman has already developed antibodies that could affect her baby.
The Maternal and Child Health Services package already includes laboratory services, ultrasound and surfactant therapy, with some of those services introduced from June 2023.
Dr Eugene-Ford encouraged expectant mothers to contact their nearest wellness centre to find out whether they are eligible and how to access the new services.
“A healthy baby means a happy mom and a happy mom means a happy family,” she said.
