Trinidad’s Health Minister hosts launch of Trinidad and Tobago Organ Transplant Foundation

Port of Spain, Trinidad – Trinidad’s Senator the Honourable Jerry Narace Minister of Health hosted the Directors of the Trinidad and Tobago Organ Transplant Foundation (TTOTF) at the Ministry of Health’s Head Office on March 26, 2010.

Those present at the meeting included the President of the Foundation, Mr. Daniel Lambert and Dr Lesley Ann Roberts, Director National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU). The meeting was held to facilitate the launch of TTOTF via the presentation of TTOTF’s February 2010 articles of incorporation and business plan to the Minister of Health.

TTOTF is a private, non-profit organization with the primary goal of promoting and supporting organ transplantation in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that every person in Trinidad and Tobago understands the need for organ and tissue donation, and accepts donation as a fundamental human responsibility. The Ministry of Health’s National Organ Transplant Unit (NOTU) is the body mandated to perform transplants in Trinidad and Tobago.

The organ and tissue that the NOTU transplants are the kidney and cornea respectively. TTOTF will support NOTU by promoting NOTU via fund-raising and promotional initiatives to increase the supply of donated organs. This will allow NOTU to remain focused and efficient in meeting the new and evolving challenges of the professionals in the transplant community, as well as the many patients and families who need organ transplants. TTOTF will establish avenues at both the community and national level for people to become aware of how to become an organ donor and to come forward to become donors.

Persons wishing to become organ donors can contact the NOTU at 645-2640 ext 2580 or visit the Ministry of Health’s website at www.health.gov.tt to sign a donor card to become a member of the registered donors.

Minister Narace congratulated TTOTF on the work being done and noted the transplantation process is a necessary intervention to assist those persons with advanced medical conditions such as renal failure. Minister Narace reiterated the Ministry of Health is committed to working with the TTOTF to support the work of the TTOTF to get the kind of results desired. Minister Narace reminded all present that a critical strategy of the Ministry of Health is to partner with non-governmental organizations to effect continuous positive change in the public health sector.