The mission of the National Organ Transplant Unit is to provide a comprehensive solution and support for two crucial sets of tasks matching available organs to a long list of potential recipients. Also, gathering, storing and processing information from both potential recipients and donors and providing semantic grounding for knowledge representation that can be easily understood by humans. To this end, the Unit is committed to the performance of safe, quality and efficacious donation and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes. The Unit provides kidney transplants to persons affected with End Stage Renal Failure.
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. A donor is any person 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. Any person over the age of 18 can choose to become a donor.
What kinds of transplants does the programme cover?
The organs and tissue that the Unit transplants are the kidney and cornea respectively. However, until the Eye Bank is established, corneal grafts have to be imported from the U.S.A. and this does not make this operation readily available to everyone.
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. Several authors have reviewed the long-term consequences of living with one kidney. The consensus 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.
How do I become a donor?
Become an Organ Donor, Give life!
- Click to Download the Donor Application Form
- Print and fill out the form
- Submit the form:
- By hand at the National Organ Transplant Unit, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex OR
- Fax: (868)-662-7556 OR
- Scan and email to: notu@health.gov.tt
Contact Information
Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex
Building 8
Champ Fleurs
Telephone: (868)-663-5534 / 7663
