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Renal diseases are affecting the health and well-being of the population of Barbados. To this end, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will host a conference on transplantation entitled: Live and Cadaveric Organ Transplantation- Truths and Myths on Wednesday, May 16, at 9:00 a.m., at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre (LESC), Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.

On Thursday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a public lecture at the LESC featuring two presentations – one on the Australian Transplantation Experience by Aimee Cunningham and another on the Seven Ethical Issues of Organ Donation by Professor Andrew Flescher. Also on May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., there will be a clinical presentation for medical staff at the hospital on Brain Stem Death by Professor Flescher.

The QEH currently provides dialysis treatments for 175 patients with chronic renal failure, while another 24 receive treatments outsourced to a third party provider. In addition, the Artificial Kidney Unit is operating at full capacity and there is no further room for expansion.?? It is estimated that the number of patients requiring treatments will increase to 400 by the year 2020.

As a result, the Board of Management of the hospital is seeking to implement a comprehensive programme built around the continuation of dialysis treatments and the expansion of peritoneal (home) dialysis and transplantation.

The aim of the conference is to stimulate widespread discussions around transplantation. In addition to local specialists, the hospital’s management has invited experts from Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Canada, and the United States, who will share their findings and experiences.

melissa.rollock@barbados.gov.bb

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