Jamaica: MSF emergency response after Hurricane Melissa

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières emergency teams arrived in Jamaica in early November to assess the immediate needs of communities after the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The teams are reaching the most remote areas where people have been completely cut off due to road damage mainly and massive damage in regional hospitals and healthcare centres. 

In the meantime, a full MSF cargo shipment has been sent from Brussels and reached Jamaica yesterday with medical supplies, NFIs, tarpaulins and necessary material.

Repairing Health Facilities and Distributing Medical Supplies

MSF will focus on the regional hospital of Cornwall, while fixing the roof and other departments of the hospital that have been severely damaged like the operating theatre and maternity and restoring the provision of water. 

Where necessary, our team will provide medical supplies to the hospital and healthcare centres in coordination with the Ministry of Health and the hospital’s management. Also in St. James parish, MSF will also work in 3 identified healthcare centres providing water provision and addressing the needs of the community.  

Providing Clean Water and Other Essential Items

MSF will support 3 health centres and temporary health points providing distribution of medical supplies, WASH, and logistical support. 

We will provide water trucking to the vulnerable communities, increase the water storage, distribute water filters, hygiene kits, jerrycans, drum covers, mosquito nets, repellent sheet, kitchen kit, plastic sheeting.

In remote areas of St. Elisabeth parish, MSF teams have provided basic psychosocial support to people and offered internet connections so people cut off from networks can call and speak to their relatives.  

On 5 November, MSF began water trucking to provide clean water to people in the remote area of Slipe, St. Elisabeth parish.