CIFAL Merida
11 September 2025, Merida, Mexico - The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Merida (CIFAL Merida), an affiliated training centre of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), is promoting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being through actions to support the safe donation and transport of organs from Merida International Airport.
To strengthen the culture of donation and ensure efficient processes for the transport of human organs, tissues, and cells for transplantation, a Collaboration Agreement was signed in August 2025 at Merida International Airport between the Yucatan State Transplant Centre (CEETRY), airport authorities, health agencies, and organizations from the aviation sector.
CIFAL Merida
Within this framework, CIFAL Merida will act as a strategic partner in advancing SDG 3 by driving awareness and educational initiatives that encourage voluntary and altruistic organ donation, ultimately helping to save lives.
The agreement, based on Articles 72 and 73 of the Regulations of the General Health Law on Transplants of Mexico, establishes that:
- The transport of human organs, tissues, and cells for transplantation must be carried out in specially designed containers that ensure proper handling, temperature control, preservation, and optimal timing for the transplant.
- The containers must be clearly labelled with the statement “ORGANS, TISSUES AND CELLS FOR TRANSPLANTATION”, and include details of the type of organ or tissue, the establishment where the extraction took place, the receiving institution, and the person responsible for the transport.
Immediate actions include:
- Installing an information banner in the passenger access area of the airport, featuring awareness-raising messages on organ donation.
- CEETRY’s participation in the Health Fair in November, providing direct information to passengers and airport staff.
- Implementing priority boarding protocols for the transport of organs and tissues, in coordination with airlines and civil aviation authorities.
CIFAL Merida
The Administrator of Merida International Airport, Mr Oscar Carrillo Maldonado, emphasised:
These actions reinforce the airport’s commitment to public health and community well-being, aligning its operations with principles of sustainability and social responsibility.
The Director of CIFAL Merida, Mr Hector Navarrete Muñoz, added:
This effort contributes to the global initiatives of the 2030 Agenda, fostering multisectoral partnerships to guarantee the right to health and promote a culture of solidarity that saves lives.
Dr Jorge Martínez Ulloa Torres, Director General of the Yucatan State Transplant Centre, delivered an awareness talk, noting that Yucatan has many success stories that should be more widely shared. He highlighted that currently around 16,350 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant, while 2,419 patients await a corneal transplant. With the signing of this agreement, joint actions are being launched to promote voluntary organ donation across all sectors involved.