Residents of Black River, St. Elizabeth, who were severely affected by Hurricane Melissa, have begun receiving care packages and other essential relief items. The initiative is being carried out by the Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), in close coordination with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). The distribution formed...

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Representative to Jamaica, Ian Stein, visited the Cornwall Regional Hospital on Sunday, November 2, signalling support for the quick recovery of the healthcare sector after Hurricane Melissa. Mr. Stein’s visit was part of a coordinated mission with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to support several western Jamaica health facilities in the...

Fisherfolk across several communities in St. Ann have credited early and proactive preparations with helping to safeguard boats, equipment, and livelihoods ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall on October 28. While storms often devastate marine industries, disciplined pre-storm measures taken by these coastal communities helped avert total catastrophe. Fisherman, Harold Bloomfield of White River—a coastal community bordering Ocho Rios and St....

 

Employees of Hah-R-Mony Entertainment Limited, Jamaica’s largest entertainment company, joined cleanup efforts in Montego Bay, St. James, on October 31. The Category Five cyclone made landfall on October 28, unleashing widespread damage and disruption across several parishes—most notably in St. James. The employees focused their efforts on clearing debris and fallen trees from key areas of Montego Bay, including Mango...

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has announced that several primary care facilities will play a critical supporting role in the ongoing post-hurricane recovery efforts across the public health system. These facilities will focus on providing triage and outpatient services to help ease the burden on hospitals in the five most severely affected parishes. Speaking during...

The public is being advised to observe safe water consumption practices, as Hurricane Melissa significantly impacted potable water systems—particularly across the western and southern regions of Jamaica. The Ministry of Health and Wellness reports that high turbidity, infrastructure damage, and prolonged power outages have disrupted the ability of the National Water Commission (NWC) and Municipal Corporations to maintain consistent water...