Britain has sent a 12-person team of general practitioners, nurses, midwives, and logistics experts to Jamaica to deliver life-saving care and support recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
The British Government, in a news release, said the team started operating mobile medical clinics across hurricane-affected regions on Monday, November 17, providing direct health care in communities where facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
"This includes urgent care for injuries and infections, maternal health needs, and referral of the most serious cases to hospital for further treatment," the British Government said, adding that the team's deployment reflects the commitment of the United Kingdom (UK) to harnessing technical expertise to strengthen Jamaica's health system.
The first mobile clinics opened in Jackson Town, Ulster Spring, and Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny.
To date, the UK Government has delivered 6,560 shelter kits; 1,100 hygiene kits; and more than 6,700 solar lanterns, reaching more than 33,000 people affected by the hurricane.
The Royal Navy's HMS Trent was also deployed to assist with local recovery efforts, with British personnel helping to restore vital infrastructure, including undertaking emergency repairs at Falmouth Hospital.
"The UK Emergency Medical Team will play a vital role in restoring essential health-care services and supporting affected communities. Our thoughts continue to be with all those impacted across Jamaica," the release quotes British High Commissioner to Jamaica Alicia Herbert.
The release also reported the UK's Minister for the Caribbean, Chris Elmore, as saying: "We have all seen the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, and the UK is doing its bit to help Jamaica recover in the aftermath. The medical team will provide vital treatment and care for those affected, as well as helping local services while they are stretched and working in difficult conditions as they build back from the impact of this hurricane."
Meanwhile, David Wightwick, UK-Med CEO, said the team will help keep essential services running while supporting the Ministry of Health and Wellness as it restores Jamaica's health-care system.
"Our response is about solidarity as much as clinical support, standing alongside our Jamaican colleagues as they rebuild," Wightwick said.
The UK Emergency Medical Team is Britain's official humanitarian health response mechanism, backed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and operated by UK-Med.