Jamaica: MSF response after Hurricane Melissa
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency teams reached Jamaica last weekend and are assessing people’s immediate needs following the massive destruction from Hurricane Melissa.
MSF staff are working to reach the most remote areas where people have been completely cut off due to road destruction and where regional hospitals and healthcare centres have been severely damaged. In the meantime, a full MSF cargo shipment has been sent from Brussels and reached Jamaica on Nov. 5 with medical supplies, nonfood items, tarpaulins and other vital material.
Repairing health services, distributing medical supplies
In St. James parish, MSF will focus on the regional hospital of Cornwall, while fixing the roof and other departments of the hospital that have been severely damaged, including the operating room and maternity area. They will also help restore access to water. Where necessary, our team will provide medical supplies to the hospital and healthcare centres in coordination with the Ministry of Health and hospital management. Also in St. James parish, MSF will also work in three identified healthcare centres providing water and addressing the needs of people in the community.
Providing safe water, other basic necessities
In St. Elisabeth parish, MSF will support three health centres and temporary health points providing distribution of medical supplies, logistical support as well as water, sanitation and hygiene needs. We will provide water trucking to people in communities left vulnerable after the hurricane. Staff will also increase water storage, distribute water filters, hygiene kits, jerrycans, drum covers, mosquito nets, repellent sheets, kitchen kits and plastic sheeting.
In remote areas of St. Elisabeth parish, MSF teams have provided basic psychosocial support to people and offered internet connections so those cut off from networks can call and speak to their relatives. On Nov. 5, MSF began water trucking to provide clean water to people in the remote area of Slipe, St. Elisabeth parish.
