In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, has announced a series of emergency measures to address the disruption of primary healthcare services in St. James. During a press briefing in Montego Bay, Dr. Tufton revealed that only eight or nine of the parish’s 24 health centers are fully operational, with the remainder sustaining varying degrees of damage. To bridge the gap, the Ministry has deployed mobile pharmacies and clinics to affected communities while constructing temporary facilities. Additionally, efforts are underway to restore Cornwall Regional Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, which is now operational despite lingering challenges. Dr. Tufton emphasized the urgent need to focus on primary healthcare, particularly in mitigating post-storm environmental risks such as mosquito-borne diseases, rodent infestations, and water and food contamination. The Minister has been actively engaging with vector control workers and public health officers across the region to assess resources, including fogging machines and vehicles, and to ensure readiness for deployment. Dr. Tufton also urged residents to take personal precautions, such as consuming safe water, using repellents, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites, to safeguard their health during this critical period.
Health ministry to look at alternate strategies for primary healthcare in St James
