UK deploys emergency medical group to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa

• UK medical group to bolster stretched companies in Jamaica within the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, offering very important care.
• The Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) was deployed following an official request from the Government of Jamaica to ship life-saving care and assist restoration efforts after Hurricane Melissa.
• The group will present pressing take care of accidents, maternal well being, and hospital referrals for additional remedy – reinforcing native healthcare capability and supporting Jamaica’s restoration.
• The mission will ship cellular medical clinics in areas the place well being companies have been severely disrupted, guaranteeing communities have entry to urgently wanted companies.

The UK has despatched a 12-person group of GPs, nurses, midwives, and logistics consultants to Jamaica to ship life-saving care and assist restoration efforts within the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with the primary clinics opening at the moment (Monday 17 November).   

Backed by the UK Government, the group will function cellular medical clinics throughout affected areas. The deployment displays the UK’s dedication to harnessing technical experience to strengthen Jamaica’s well being system.    

The group will present direct healthcare in communities the place services have been broken or destroyed. This contains pressing take care of accidents and infections, maternal well being wants, and referral of probably the most severe circumstances to hospital for additional remedy.  

The first cellular clinics opened at the moment in Jackson Town, Ulster Spring, and Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny.  

This package deal comes after the UK mobilised a complete package deal of humanitarian help to assist Jamaica’s restoration. To date, the UK authorities has delivered 6,560 shelter kits, 1,100 hygiene kits and greater than 6,700 photo voltaic lanterns, reaching greater than 33,000 folks affected by the hurricane. The Royal Navy’s HMS Trent was additionally deployed to help with native restoration efforts, with British personnel serving to to revive very important infrastructure together with enterprise emergency repairs at Falmouth hospital.

Minister for the Caribbean, Chris Elmore, stated:

We have all seen the devastation brought on by Hurricane Melissa – and the UK is doing its bit to assist Jamaica get well within the aftermath. 

The medical group will present very important remedy and take care of these affected, in addition to serving to native companies whereas they’re stretched and dealing in tough circumstances as they construct again from the influence of this hurricane.

David Wightwick CMG, UK-Med CEO, stated:

The hurricane has left hospitals broken and well being employees stretched to their limits. Our surge group will assist preserve important companies operating whereas supporting the Ministry of Health and Wellness because it restores Jamaica’s healthcare system.     

Our response is about solidarity as a lot as scientific assist, standing alongside our Jamaican colleagues as they rebuild.

Notes to Editors

• The UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) is the UK’s official humanitarian well being response mechanism, backed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and operated by UK-Med. It gives speedy, high-quality emergency healthcare throughout disasters and illness outbreaks around the globe, in partnership with affected governments and the World Health Organization.  UK-Med is a UK-registered charity primarily based in Manchester, with greater than 30 years of expertise responding to well being emergencies worldwide.
• The UK is delivering a multi-faceted well being response within the wake of Hurricane Melissa, because the storm has severely broken well being infrastructure and elevated the chance of water- and vector-borne illness outbreaks attributable to flooding. The UK is working with worldwide companions to assist affected communities — serving to to revive well being services and strengthen illness surveillance by means of the Pan American Health Organization, and guaranteeing entry to secure water, sanitation, and hygiene with UNICEF. Support additionally contains offering mosquito nets and repellents to stop illnesses like malaria and dengue.
• The FCDO and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are additionally working intently collectively to assist the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) – offering funding for important public well being provides – together with diagnostics, laboratory capability, an infection prevention supplies, and different necessities.
• Funding may even assist the deployment of regional public well being specialists to strengthen laboratory capability, monitor illness developments in shelter settings, and supply technical enter to enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) circumstances aimed toward stopping illness outbreaks within the aftermath of the hurricane. This joint response builds on sturdy current partnerships and demonstrates the UK’s continued dedication to supporting restoration, resilience, and well being safety within the Caribbean.