Gov’t Finalising Plans to Restore Western Parish Health Centres Damaged By Hurricane Melissa

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is finalising plans to repair and rebuild health centres across western parishes that sustained damage during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Portfolio Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, in an address to community health aides and mental health officers at the Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny on Thursday (November 27), stated that the Ministry is expected to decide within weeks on the best course of action for the restoration.

“We have, so far, mapped all the health centres in the zone of the hurricane, including the parish of Trelawny. We know the ones that are partially damaged, fully damaged or [have] no damage. We are now doing the assessment of those facilities,” he informed.

Dr. Tufton explained that some facilities will require full roof replacement using hurricane‑resistant materials, while others may need to be relocated entirely to better serve their communities.

The Minister stated that the goal is to return staff to their original workspaces or provide them with modern, upgraded facilities.

“However, what is important right now is that we have services continuing. Wherever we can provide the service to the people, we do that first and then we assess the buildings,” he added.

In a bid to strengthen field operations, Dr. Tufton also announced the distribution of 3,000 branded vests. He noted that 1,000 vests are currently being printed, with an additional 2,000 to follow.

The Minister further indicated that the vests will be distributed to healthcare workers, including community health aides, vector-control personnel, public health inspectors, and mental health officers.

“Whether you’re community health aide, vector worker, public health inspector or mental health officer, when you are in the field, working with the people, they must know that this is the army of healthcare coming,” he emphasised.

In the meantime, Dr. Tufton reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to the well-being of its workforce, highlighting the role of the Staff Welfare Portal in providing support and resources.

He pointed out that the platform enables health personnel affected by Hurricane Melissa to report their personal losses and challenges, thereby allowing the Ministry to assess and categorise their needs.

Dr. Tufton advised that the portal has already received nearly 2,500 responses from workers across the health system, who reported various forms of damage, including lost roofs and other personal losses.

“Our workers are the most important part of what we do because it is they who carry the service, interact with patients, with communities, and who have the training and the capacity. However, the staff can’t do that if [they are] overwhelmed with what is happening to them,” he emphasised.

“We recognise that in health. So, the… idea is to get from every staff in the affected areas what their concerns are, [in order] to offer both emotional support and help in terms of some of the physical support,” the Minister added.