Field hospital in Black River, St Elizabeth operational

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is reporting that the field hospital in St Elizabeth is up and running and that Jamaicans in need are receiving care.

The facility is located on the grounds of the Black River High School.

The Ministry says the field hospital is equipped with more than 30 inpatient beds, an operating room for surgical procedures, an emergency room, an Obstetric ward for maternal and neonatal care as well as a laboratory, pharmacy, and blood bank.

International Christian relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse airlifted the field hospital to the island on Sunday aboard the organisation’s 767 cargo aircraft and was set up by its Disaster Assistance Response Team, with the support of the Jamaica Defence Force and other partners.

The health ministry says a team of some 60 experienced medical and operational specialists with Samaritan’s Purse is present to run the hospital, which spans some 40,000 square feet.

The Samaritan’s Purse team will man the facility and work alongside local doctors to deliver care.

“We are committed to maintaining access to essential health services for our people, even in the most challenging circumstances. This field hospital, in one of the hardest hit locations in the country, helps us to bridge the gap while we restore permanent facilities,” said Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton.

“I also want to thank all the partners, chief among them Samaritan’s Purse, for their generosity and support in helping to get this field hospital ready,” Tufton added.

For his part, Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, said the organisation is happy to help.

“This powerful storm damaged or destroyed every structure in Black River—including the hospital—and our team has been working round the clock to get an Emergency Field Hospital airlifted, transported to the site, and now open and treating patients,” he said.

“So many people in Jamaica have lost everything and there is a great need for medical care. We’re here to help in Jesus Name,” he added.

Samaritan’s Purse says over the past week, it has airlifted nearly 100 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Jamaica, including thousands of shelter tarps, 4,660 household water filters, nearly 4,000 solar lights, and more than 800 hygiene kits.

The organisation says it has also sent four community water filtration systems, each capable of serving up to 10,000 people per day with safe drinking water, and is continuing to install them across the island’s most critically damaged areas.

“These people will need our help for some time. We’re continuing to deliver clean water, shelter materials, and other relief supplies to help families recover,” said Graham.

“As this falls out of the news, we want them to know they are not forgotten. Pray for the people of Jamaica and for our teams as we also share the hope of the Gospel.”

Meanwhile, the health ministry says it continues to assess the damage across the health sector and will provide further updates as additional facilities come back online.

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