Fellow Nurses Africa | Lagos, Nigeria | 08 November, 2025
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, a fully equipped emergency field hospital has been established in Black River, St. Elizabeth, to provide urgent medical care for residents affected by the storm.
The facility, set up by Samaritan’s Purse International Relief in partnership with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, is now fully operational on the grounds of Black River High School. It functions as a temporary hospital, complete with inpatient wards, an ICU, operating theatre, maternity and neonatal units, laboratory, and pharmacy services.
According to Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, the hospital admitted about 50 patients within its first 24 hours of operation. A team of around 60 medical professionals from the United States is working alongside local Jamaican healthcare workers to deliver 24-hour care.
“This deployment represents swift and effective disaster response,” Dr. Tufton said. “It ensures continuity of care for communities that have been severely impacted.”
Plans are also underway to open additional field hospitals in Falmouth, Trelawny, and possibly Montego Bay, St. James, to strengthen post-hurricane healthcare coverage across the island.
The move captures Jamaica’s resilience and the power of international collaboration in emergency healthcare delivery a vital example of disaster nursing and crisis response in action following Hurricane Melissa’s widespread damage.
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