Work is underway on a new medical laboratory at Trinidad’s Couva District Health Facility, thanks to a donation of more than USD $3.5 million from PotashCorp (PCS Nitrogen Trinidad). The lab will be able to test blood in four main areas: complete blood count, blood glucose, renal and liver function.

At a sod-turning ceremony in early February, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, praised the company for “good corporate citizenship” in supporting the project, describing it as “a single moment, a very good journey of hope to get the public/private partnership in such an important area, the area of health.”

“Almost 150,000 people pass through this Couva health facility, so it will mean a large block will be further serviced by the construction of the lab,” she said.

Ian E. Welch, Managing Director of PCS Nitrogen Trinidad, believes health care is a responsibility shared by all.  “Health issues in Trinidad are large, they are deep, they are broad-based, they are diverse and they require all of us to do our part,” he said at the ceremony. “And all of us – our government, our non-governmental organizations and members of the private sector – have an obligation to force the effective partnerships to impact the many determinants of health and life.”

 “We are on the right track with this project,” he added. “The needs are real and we are doing something because we can, because it’s the right thing to do.”

About 1.3 million people call Trinidad and Tobago home. PotashCorp Nitrogen Trinidad, known locally as PCS Nitrogen, employs more than 400 people.