One love, one health, one mission

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, when communities across western Jamaica were left grappling with damaged infrastructure and disrupted healthcare services, a team of dedicated medical professionals stepped forward with a mission grounded in compassion, service, and national pride. Led by Dr Dahlia Blake and Dr Je-anne Beaufort, the Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Medical Mission brought critical care to some of the island’s most affected communities, including Savanna-la-Mar, Bluefields, and Barrett Town.

“As a daughter of Jamaica, I felt it was a social responsibility to help the people of my community, my homeland, from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction and impact, especially to Jamaica’s healthcare system islandwide,” Dr Blake said.

“As a physician and an educator, I felt it was imperative to address the health needs of those impacted,” she added.

Her decision to focus on Westmoreland was deeply personal. “I chose Savanna-la-Mar because I was born and raised in Petersfield, Westmoreland. I desired to give back to the hospital and parish where I was raised, Bluefields Health Centre which services Bluefields and Whitehouse. As a result of the storm, Whitehouse Health Centre no longer exists,” Dr Blake said.

The mission, held from March 23 to 29, 2026, extended beyond Westmoreland into St James, reflecting a wider understanding of the hurricane’s impact. “We didn’t want to limit services only to Westmoreland. I am very aware the community health centres were impacted, especially in St James parish. Barrett Town Health Centre, the location of my 2024 Day of Service Health Project, meshed perfectly, and the mission became ‘One Love, One Health, One Mission,’ supported by Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida,” she said.

Through this initiative, hundreds of Jamaicans received free medical care spanning general adult and paediatric services, mental-health support, and critical screenings.

“Our experience, combined with that of my colleagues, allowed us to execute a mission providing free medical services to individuals profoundly affected by Hurricane Melissa. We focused on general adult and paediatric medicine, health screenings such as hypertension and diabetes, well-baby checks, and stroke education,” Dr Blake said.

The need was immediate and deeply felt. “We commonly heard, ‘You are the first doctor since Hurricane Melissa that I have seen,’ and ‘Thank you for coming and providing such good care,’” she recalled.

Many patients required medication refills, follow-up on lab results, and management of chronic illnesses. “There were also many complaints of pain due to overuse while trying to rebuild homes and infrastructure. We treated patients from as young as two weeks old to over 90 years old,” Dr Blake said.

In addition to preventive care, the team addressed acute conditions and emerging mental- health concerns. “We also provided acute care to patients who were ill as well as support for mild sleep disorders due to situational anxiety,” Dr. Blake said.

Central to the mission was patient education. “We took every opportunity to educate patients about their conditions and medications. Education for primary and secondary prevention is key to building a healthy community. We found that adherence is an issue, but most people want to do the right thing for their health,” she said.

The success of the mission was strengthened by collaboration with local healthcare providers. “Our cohesive group of doctors easily integrated and worked alongside Jamaican doctors, nurses, and local health workers,” she said. At Barrett Town Health Centre, the visiting team served as the only physicians, treating 38 patients in one day.

At Bluefields Health Centre, they saw 48 patients over two days, while at Savanna-la-Mar Health Centre, they treated 116 patients, stepping in for four doctors who were ill.

Dr Blake emphasised the importance of such missions in strengthening healthcare systems. “Medical missions like this bring specialty doctors that help bridge healthcare gaps by increasing access and building capacity for underserved populations. They also provide much-needed relief for overworked doctors and nurses, especially after a disaster like Hurricane Melissa.”

Beyond immediate care, the mission carried a broader message of unity and sustained collaboration. “One mission hopes that this will be the guiding principle of ‘One Love, One Health, One Mission,’ bringing healthcare islandwide,” Dr. Blake stated.

“It is a message to encourage and engage the international community to collaborate and support not only in times of crisis but in a meaningful, sustainable way,” she added.

She stressed that future missions must aim for long-term impact. “All missions should look for opportunities to build ongoing partnerships with communities across the island. We learned a lot about the healthcare system from day one, especially through our tours of Type 1 and Type 5 health centres in St James,” she said.

Other members of the mission team also included Dr Brandon Davis - neurosurgeon and stroke education; Dr Michelle-Ann Johnson Ramsay - family practice - who saw infants and paediatric cases; Dionne Blackwood - vice-president, Primary Care & Ambulatory Services, Lilian Mais-Hernandez, RN-nursing, dispensing medication and medication education; and Zannabe Blair, who assisted in pharmacy organisation and pharmacy technician.

Dr Blake also expressed deep gratitude to the many partners who made the mission possible, including the leadership of Memorial Healthcare System, regional health authorities, and organisations such as Food For The Poor, whose donation of medications enabled treatment for numerous patients. She also acknowledged the support of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

“We are deeply grateful to Chief Executive Officer and President Shane Strum and the board of commissioners of Memorial Healthcare System, along with Maria Salceda and the leadership of Memorial Physician Group in Hollywood, Florida, for their unwavering support of the Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Medical Mission,” she said

“Our sincere appreciation goes to Dr Beverly Wright, medical officer and regional cancer coordinator for the Western Regional Health Authority. Her assistance in coordinating and collaborating was essential to the success and impact of our medical mission. We are also thankful to Susan Moore, director of projects and social intervention at Food For The Poor, for the organisation’s generosity and donation of medications. These contributions enabled us to treat a multitude of chronic and acute illnesses across all three health centres,” she said.

Dr Blake also extended gratitude to Lennox Wallace JP, parish manager for the St James Health Department and Regional Director of the Western Regional Health Authority, and Novlin Lesile Little, parish manager at Westmoreland Public Health Services, for facilitating and coordinating their visit to Savanna-la-Mar Health Centre and Public General Hospital.

In a time of crisis, the Jamaica Hurricane Melissa Medical Mission stood as a powerful example of compassion in action, where expertise met empathy and where a shared commitment to service restored not only health but hope.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com