2025-11-04 Situation update – Kingston, Jamaica. The two CMAT clinicians deployed alongside Burnaby Urban Search & Rescue (with K9) continue to assess the hardest-hit southwest part of Jamaica, where Black River and surrounding communities suffered extensive damage, including near-total loss of the local hospital as a result of Hurricane Melissa.

At today’s UN Health Cluster meeting, the Jamaican Ministry of Health & Wellness emphasized that the disaster response remains government-led, with all partners coordinating efforts through the Health Cluster and the WHO/PAHO Emergency Medical Teams system. This includes expediting professional practice licenses for volunteer organizations through Jamaican regulatory bodies.

Ministry priorities are restoring essential health services and providing life-saving care. Several hospitals in the western parishes sustained severe structural damage. As the Chief Medical Officer noted, “about 80% of the roof was lost” at Falmouth Hospital, and at Cornwall Regional, “we are down by 50% of our capacity… we really do need about 200 beds.” Black River Hospital required a full evacuation, and field hospital support is now underway.

Primary care centres in the country are widely damaged, and public health needs are significant, including medical waste management, shelter support, vector control, and mental health/psychosocial services for communities and staff. Emergency Medical Team deployments will focus on Type 1 mobile teams to support shelters, access remote areas and decompress overwhelmed emergency departments and Type 2 field hospitals for surgical/inpatient capacity.

CMAT has submitted an updated Primary Health Care capability offer of assistance through the EMT Coordination Cell (CICOM in Spanish) and awaits potential tasking from the Ministry of Health regarding priority location and clinical skill needs.