Recife, January 19, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Federal Police's discovery of an international network of traffickers in human organs who operated in the capital of Pernambuco, recruiting poor people to sell one of their kidneys to recipients in South Africa, did not reduce the number of donors in Pernambuco.

In light of repercussions surrounding the scheme, organ transplant specialists in the state were fearful that the population would lose confidence in public health services and come to view donations with reluctance.

According to the coordinator of the Pernambuco Transplant Center, Josemberg Campos, the decline did not occur, due to ample coverage in the local press, which demonstrated that neither professionals nor institutions that are part of the public system were involved in the crimes.

Campos underlined that, during the first five days of 2004, 17 patients who were awaiting organ transplants received organs, thanks to donations. (DAS)