INTERNATIONAL ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS-MEXICO

WCTF Project Mexico

BY MEGAN BRAUN (EDITOR - WCTF NEWS), ON JUNE 30TH, 2010

The World Children’s Transplant Fund just began “Project Mexico” in 2009. The team has visited the Guadalajara area, met with a Hospital Director and Transplant Surgeons in Mexico, and visited Mexican Hospitals at various socio-economic levels. All initial efforts have been focused on a primary task—to see where and how the assistance of the WCTF would have the most impact to help the most children in Mexico receive lifesaving transplant surgery.

Project Mexico is working to identify individuals, groups and organizations which will help us achieve this vital purpose. Thus far, we have communicated with good people in both the United States and abroad. These generous and insightful professionals have vowed to help us explore future financing, problem-solving and publicity opportunities. Some of these early new partners include:

• Doctors and Lawyers
• Political Figures
• Media Experts and Artists
• Universities and Professors
• One Legacy, an organ donation advocates’ group
• Donate Life (Done Vida) California
• California Transplant Donor Network
• Department of Immunology and Immunogenetics, Mexico, DF

With all we have learned thus far, we have developed the following short-term goals:

Find an Executive Director—With the limited funds available, WCTF must find a dedicated individual who can raise money, raise awareness, and build a strong team which will ultimately make organ transplantations in Mexico more attainable.

Establish a working office in Mexico—Sites are currently being considered.

Form a Board of Directors for Project Mexico—This Board would contain people of character and compassion, who have the professional backgrounds and life skills to overcome the obstacles to transplantation which exist today in Mexico.

Establish a Memorandum of Understanding—By reviewing model agreements drawn up in Costa Rica, Armenia and other nations, WCTF hopes to quickly establish a working document for the country of Mexico.

Create an Operational Plan–With each passing week, we are learning just how deeply the challenges in Mexico span a wide range of medical, educational, religious, logistical, legal, governmental and economic issues. Therefore, we are drawing up an initial plan to identify key obstacles and to craft meaningful solutions, led by strong people who are compelled to succeed.