The path to recovery in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa is long, but our teams are bringing not just medical aid, but hope. We are grateful for the donor generosity that has sustained our emergency response efforts, allowing rotating teams of doctors and nurses to work tirelessly at two medical locations in St. James Parish since the beginning of November.
In the face of widespread devastation, our volunteers have treated over 700 patients for conditions ranging from storm-related respiratory issues and skin infections to managing chronic hypertension. As one nurse shared, the simple need for “refills on prescriptions that were washed away in the storm” underscores how essential this basic care truly is.
Every patient seen truly needed medical help. The impact of this care was best captured by a patient who had lost his home: “He told us how professional the clinic was and that we made him feel like a human and that he mattered.”
Lisa Little, HHI volunteer nurse described her experience caring for the people of Jamaica: “We’re usually the only people they’ve talked to, other than their neighbors who’ve all gone through the same thing,” Little said. “People to listen to them just talk about what’s happened and how it’s affected them, that really goes a long way.”
We are also actively supporting local healthcare infrastructure. Our logistical support has involved shipping over 43,000 hygiene kits and significant quantities of medicine and medical supplies to partners in both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Critically, we are providing these vital resources directly to the Ministry of Health in St. James Parish, where our team has been treating patients.
This partnership approach is transforming recovery efforts. Upon learning of the substantial medical aid donation, Dr. Dailey, Medical Director for St. James Parish, shared a moving testament to your impact: “HHI has made my day, my month, and now my next year.”
