The amended Children’s Life Fund Act has allowed an international medical specialist to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to perform a specialised procedure on a child, avoiding the need to send the beneficiary overseas for treatment.
The procedure was carried out on Friday (August 28, 2026) at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, with the international specialist working alongside local doctors and medical teams.
Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe visited the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital the same day and met with the beneficiary.
The Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA) said the procedure marked the first time it has facilitated an international specialist providing specialised treatment locally under the amended legislation.
The Act was amended in July 2025 to broaden the Fund’s scope and give the CLFA greater flexibility in responding to the medical needs of children with life-limiting illnesses.
The CLFA facilitated the involvement of Dr Francisco Suarez Anozrena, an Interventional Hepatobiliary Specialist with Fundación ETHE. He worked alongside local specialists including paediatric gastroenterologist Dr Sherman Soman, interventional radiologist Dr Robbie Rampersad, paediatric intensivist Dr Sushil Devashetty and adult intensivist Dr Kevin Khan-Kernahan.
CLFA chief executive officer Vernessar Cummings said the amended legislation allows specialised expertise to be brought to Trinidad and Tobago where clinically appropriate, while also creating opportunities for local healthcare professionals to gain knowledge and skills through working with international specialists.
The amended legislation also expanded the list of conditions eligible for assistance, including cancer, Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-thalassemia, as well as other life-limiting conditions in cardiology, surgery, nephrology and endocrinology.
