KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tens of thousands of pounds of food, water and medical supplies from South Florida arrived in Kingston, Jamaica on Monday, part of a relief effort to support communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
A 737 cargo aircraft carrying about 50,000 pounds of aid landed in Kingston, where two South Florida physicians helped coordinate the medical response.
“I wanted to be here on the ground because I am Jamaican,” said Dr. Dahlia Blake, a physician with Memorial Healthcare System, who traveled with the relief team. “I am a native of Jamaica and people are suffering due to Hurricane Melissa, Category 5 that has destroyed the island, and it’s important for us to have a social responsibility and also our healthcare system is a phenomenal healthcare system.”
She said the relief effort involved hospital leadership and community partners who mobilized quickly.
“The response was overwhelming,” Blake added. “Massive amount of coordination of effort, including our CEO , who is a great humanitarian as well, the leadership, Douglas Harrison, who also on the board of commissioners on Memorial Healthcare System. Maria Salcedo, who is also part of this MPG who spurred everything into action. So we’re grateful.”
Medical supplies delivered included EKG machines, power banks and basic patient-care items.
“We have food, we have infant supplies, diapers, wipes, we have healthcare machines and power banks, EKG machines,” said Dr. Je-Anne Beaufort, another physician on the mission.
Beaufort said the equipment is crucial for clinics and hospitals left damaged or without power.
“It’s extremely important,” she said. “We have (facilities) that were decimated that are in dire need of these supplies. So our intention is that we bring it here and the areas of need will be identified and these equipment will be dispersed to the areas that are most in need of these supplies.”
Blake said she hopes the support reaches the communities hit hardest.
“My hope is that supplies are given to area hospitals and allocated to places that desperately need it, especially in the areas that are most devastated, and these lives are changed,” she added. “People’s lives are healed not only from a physical standpoint, but also from a spiritual standpoint as well. And so this is a mission of hope in addition to a mission of relief, recovery, and hopefully to make a comeback stronger and even better.”
Relief shipments are expected to continue, with supplies being distributed across the island in the coming days.
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