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Core Function
The National Organ Transplant Unit provides a
continuous, comprehensive and state of the art surgical
support to the National Renal Programme.
Target Group
Available to any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago who
is in need of a kidney or cornea transplant at no cost to
the donor or recipient of the procedure.
About the National Organ Transplant Unit
The National Organ Transplant Unit is located on the
Ground Floor, Building 8, of the Eric Williams Medical
Sciences Complex. The Unit was established in January
2006 with a mandate to facilitate the safe and equitable
transplantation of organs and tissue to patients living
with organ failure in accordance with internationally
acceptable standards.
Trinidad and Tobago is currently the only Caribbean
country that has the appropriate legislation that allows
transplants to be performed and the only Caribbean
country performing the same in a structured manner.
How do I access the services offered by the
National Organ Transplant Unit?
A potential recipient must be referred to the National
Organ Transplant Unit by a Consultant Nephrologist
in order to receive a kidney transplant. At the present
time this can be best expedited if the recipient has
identified a donor over the age of 18, who has a
compatible blood group with the recipient, who has
been medically, psychologically and socially cleared to
do this altruistic act. The donor as well needs to bring
a referral from his/her General Practitioner. To become
an organ donor call the National Organ Transplant
Unit.
What has the programme accomplished since
its inception?
Since the start of the programme in January 2006
ninety five (95) kidney transplants have been done.
Ninety –two have been live related and unrelated and
three from deceased donation.
Living Donors vs Deceased Donation
Donation from deceased persons is the campaign that
the unit is pursuing aggressively, since donation from
deceased donors would greatly augment our Donor
Pool. Only deceased donors can be considered as
corneal donors. In addition, a single deceased donor
can provide relief to two persons living with Kidney
failure.
The long-term consequences of living with one kidney
states that there are no significant long-term medical
problems. Nevertheless the issue of performing surgery
on a live person, when the operation would not be
improving their physical well-being would be avoided.
There will never be sufficient live donors to supply the
increasing demands for kidneys and corneas. Without
donors, no transplants can occur. In an effort to expand
the donor pool, people are encouraged to sign an
Organ Donor Card, carry it with them at all times and
speak to their family, particularly their next of kin about
their wishes at the time of their passing.
ORGAN DONATION:
The Basics
Becoming an organ donor is easy, just call
800-DONOR. Read the following for answers to
questions you may have regarding organ donation:
Q. What exactly does being an organ donor means?
Being an organ donor means that you have agreed
to give life to someone else by donating your body’s
organs when you die (either by natural cause or in a
tragic accident).
As an organ donor, you will be giving part of yourself
to help someone who needs an organ transplant and,
in doing so, you will be giving them the chance to live
longer and to lead a full life.
Q. What is the charge to my family to donate an
organ, or recipients to receive a donated organ?
There is NO CHARGE to either organ donor recipient
under the Ministry of Health National Organ Transplant
Programme.
Q. How do I know my donated organ will not simply
be given or sold to the rich and famous?
IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL ORGANS in Trinidad &
Tobago. Recipients for deceases donor are chosen
through a matching systems, which selects and
matches people based on compatibility
criteria.
Q. Will organ donation disfigure my body?
Will my family be able to have an open
casket funeral for me?
Organ donation is similar to surgery. There
will be no disfigurement to a donors’ body.
Like surgery, all incisions are closed, and
you can have an open casket.
Q. Who can became a donor and what are the age
limits?
This depends on the organ being donated. Anyone
above the age of eighteen (18) years can choose to be a
donor. However, people under the age of eighteen (18)
years require the consent of a parent or guardian.
Q. How do I make it known that I wish to be an organ
donor?
You can join National Organ Transplant Registry by
calling 66-DONOR or sign a National Organ Donor
Card. Fill the card out and carry it with you all the
times!
Most importantly, discuss your wish to be an organ
donor with your family members and close friends
so that your decision is clear.
(Even though you may have signed an Organ Donor
Card, your next of kin must give permission before
any of your organs can be retrieved. Remember that,
at the time of your death, it may be very difficult for
your loved ones to consider organ donation unless
you have made your wishes know before.)
Q. Which organ or tissue can I donate?
Initially, kidneys are the only organ to be covered
under The Ministry of Health National Organ
Transplant Programme since more people require
kidney transplants. The tissue that can be donated
is the cornea. Eventually, the
programme will be extended to
include hearts, pancreas, lungs and
livers.
Q. How many people in Trinidad
and Tobago need Organs
Transplant?
Right now, there are approximately
500 nationals who need kidney
transplant and the number grows by
40 each year. A very large number people die each
year waiting for a kidney transplant.
Similarly, there are hundreds of eye patients in
danger of losing some or all of their sight due to
corneal problems, which while not life threatening is
certainly, life changing.
Q. As a donor, can I determine who receives my
organs or tissues?
This is only possible if you are a live donor.
Source:
National Organ
Transplant Unit
