Health Minister Highlights Trauma Caused by Hurricane Melissa

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says between five and six hundred thousand people have been traumatised by the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.

Addressing a virtual town hall meeting, hosted by the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC, United States (US), on November 26, Dr. Tufton said these people come from the five most affected parishes – St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny – and they must be given special support.

“The support that we give should not just be physical or material but also psychosocial,” the Minister emphasised.

Dr. Tufton noted that the hurricane did extensive damage to houses and public facilities, with some places totally destroyed.

“The storm was very tight, very forceful, and just damaged everything in its path. For example, if you are in Black River (Se. Elizabeth), it is decimated. If you get to Junction, it is almost like business as usual; same parish, very contrasting impact of the storm,” he said.

Dr. Tufton said that public health officers have been out in the field providing guidance and information from public address systems, working to ensure that water is clean, that food is safe, that water purification systems are in place and that bottled water is distributed.

The Minister noted that the Ministry has done the analysis of some 2,200 healthcare workers who reported damage to personal property – 1,300 reported major damage with many losing their homes, roofs, and personal possessions.

He said that despite the setbacks, the workers reported for duty.

He said that a team is in the process of mapping a response to the healthcare workers, and support would be provided, whether through the existing Government programmes, from the National Housing Trust (NHT) to repair their roofs, or other forms of support.

“There is a major thrust towards helping the healthcare workers, especially those who have been ravaged, and that is an opening also for collaboration, if that collaboration is possible,” the Minister told his audience.