During Hurricane Melissa the health infrastructure and medical supply chains in St. James Parish were and remain severely damaged. MSF emergency medical and logistical teams responded immediately. Coordinating closely with the Jamaican emergency relief and health authorities MSF teams are assisting with the resupply of much needed medical equipment, supplies and drugs in urban and rural areas. Many rural communities are still without electricity and water and remain difficult to reach by road.
One of the clinics that MSF is supporting with supplies is the Maroon health center. The clinic has been struggling with supplies following wide scale destruction brought by the category five hurricane Melissa on 27 October. The clinic was closed for two weeks due to the destruction of the roof and consequent flooding that destructed vital medical supplies. MSF teams were able to resupply the clinic with essential medical supplies on the first day of the clinic's reopening.
The Jamaican health care system has been overwhelmed by the large-scale disruption services which has left many elderly and chronically ill patients without medical supervision and support. A priority is to ensure the elderly, chronically ill and patients with severe medical conditions are cared for as their medical supervision has been disrupted in the wake of hurricane Melissa.
Cambridge medical centre is still without a roof. The zinc roof was blown off during category five Hurricane Melissa which led to flooding inside the centre. Following the hurricane looters stole much of the equipment and supplies. MSF, together with the Jamaican Health Authorities, will rehabilitate the roof and assist in the resupply of medical equipment, supplies and drugs.
