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?
One must be referred by a doctor to the National Organ Transplant Unit in order to receive a transplant.  To become a donor contact the National Organ Transplant Unit.  Any person over the age of 18  can choose to become a donor; for those under the age of 18 consent must be provided by a parent or guardian.

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, eighteen (18) kidney transplants have been done.  All have been live-donors, but six (6) of them have been unrelated.  Of those six, three have been spousal, in all instances the wives have donated to their husbands.  Live related transplants are directed transplants and the donor can either be a parent, child or sibling of the recipient.


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.


Contact Us
The Staff at the National Organ Transplant Unit, comprising of a Medical Director, Surgeon, two (2) Medical Social Workers, two (2) Transplant coordinators, an Office Manager and a Receptionist are available to answer any questions about organ donation, Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00p.m. The telephone contact numbers are 662 7556 or 645 2640, Ext 2580 or 800-DONOR (3666)

Become an Organ Donor, Give life!