US$4 million state-of-the-art fertility facility was officially opened in Aranjuez last week.
The new branch of the Trinidad and Tobago IVF & Fertility Centre (TTIVF), located at Icon Plaza, Aranjuez, is being described as the most advanced fertility clinic in the Caribbean, offering a full range of specialised services including an IVF lab, andrology lab, cryogenics facility, LifeAire system, medical theatre, consult suites and ultrasound services.
The ribbon was cut by TTIVF medical director Dr Catherine Minto-Bain alongside Devesh Maharaj, the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Aranjuez/St Joseph. Also there were patients who the centre had successfully helped overcome infertility challenges.
Speaking at the opening event, Maharaj said the investment represented a significant opportunity for both healthcare development and economic growth. “A facility costing over US$4 million was launched yesterday in Aranjuez. It is a source of potential revenue not only for locals but for foreigners coming into the country and into this area. This is a wonderful initiative,” Maharaj said.
He added that the facility positions T&T to capitalise on the growing medical tourism sector. “It is medical tourism. This is the most modern facility in the Caribbean and it is a service that is so much in demand. There are a lot of people who will be flocking from other countries to the Caribbean. It’s a potential source of foreign exchange. It is a really great investment. We thank the doctor for choosing Aranjuez,” Maharaj said.
The Aranjuez-based clinic has been designed to match international standards, with TTIVF pointing out that the facility is comparable to leading fertility centres in cities such as New York, London, Toronto and Miami.
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In her address, Minto-Bain underscored the growing need for fertility services in T&T, pointing out that infertility affects a significant portion of the population. “One in six people in Trinidad and Tobago are dealing with infertility. It’s a very huge problem,” she said.
She explained that the decision to locate the facility in Aranjuez was strategic, given its accessibility. “Aranjuez is a fantastic location because it is accessible for so many of our population. We have this incredible facility that offers world-class treatment. We have it here and we are better than a lot of those units. We are here for the T&T population providing state-of-the-art treatment that they need—but infertility is common; people are not alone,” she said.
Minto-Bain noted that the centre offers a wide range of services beyond traditional fertility treatment. “We do a lot of things as well—fertility preservation for cancer patients, fertility checking, social egg freezing. There is a huge amount that T&T needs and we are very proud to have Aranjuez now as our family home,” she said.
She also highlighted the centre’s growing international reach, noting that patients are already travelling to Trinidad and Tobago for treatment. “We are already getting people from abroad. We have one in Guyana, one in the USA. We are getting people from abroad coming in because of what we offer—not just the state-of-the-art facility, but amazing T&T compassion and care,” she said.
Minto-Bain, however, acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in staffing and logistics. “The biggest challenge faced is it’s difficult to train and retain staff. A lot of my staff have been with me for 15 years. It takes a lot of expertise to run an IVF clinic. Getting equipment in is always difficult, but we’ve managed. This is a huge investment—and look how amazing it is,” she said.
She also pointed to the stigma surrounding infertility as another barrier to treatment. “One of the other challenges is people don’t want to talk about infertility. The more people that know that we have the facility available is the more people will get the treatment that they need,” she said.
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