SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — In the wake of catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Melissa last October, the already strained healthcare system in Jamaica’s Westmoreland parish has received a transformative lifeline. The Issa Trust Foundation, the charitable wing of Caribbean hospitality brand Couples Resorts, has formally handed over $17 million in life-saving medical equipment and supplies to Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, reinforcing a decades-long collaborative partnership between the institution and the non-profit.
The official handover, held during a public ceremony at the hospital on Tuesday, comes as the facility continues to rebuild its care capacity after the category 5 storm devastated local infrastructure. Foundation chairman Paul Issa told attendees that while the organization’s recent focus has been centered on completing the $2.4 million Mary Issa Paediatric and Adolescent Health Centre in St Ann, the urgent, unmet needs of Westmoreland’s post-hurricane recovery could not be ignored. Setting aside his prepared remarks to speak off-the-cuff, Issa stressed that the large-scale donation was not a solo effort, but the result of coordinated action across a global network of mission-aligned partners.
“Maybe each one of us individually couldn’t have done that by ourselves. As always, it’s a group effort and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to help,” Issa said.
The donation includes a full suite of critical care and diagnostic tools that the hospital lacked after the storm: among the inventory are Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, life-support ventilators, patient monitoring systems, ECG units, pulse oximeters, vital sign monitors, defibrillators, and multiple suction devices. Multiple cross-sector and international partners contributed to making the donation possible: Partners in World Health provided core program support, Build Health International coordinated logistics for the cross-ocean shipment, Airlink covered all cost of air transport for the equipment, and Jamaica’s Ministry of Health partnered through the National Healthcare Enhancement Foundation (NHEF) Ltd. to facilitate local delivery.
Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, classified as a Type B care facility, is the primary healthcare provider for all of Westmoreland parish, including the high-volume tourist destination of Negril. The facility regularly treats a high volume of trauma cases, particularly those stemming from motorcycle accidents across the region. Dr. Suman Vemu, the hospital’s Senior Medical Officer, noted that the new equipment fills critical gaps in the facility’s ability to deliver timely, life-saving care. He recalled that a 2018 donation of a C-arm imaging machine from the foundation was a transformative upgrade for the hospital, allowing the care team to treat complex orthopaedic poly-trauma cases on-site rather than transferring patients to distant facilities.
Deveta McLaren, Acting Regional Director for the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), added that the facility is currently mid-way through a full renovation of its Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, with completion scheduled for mid-June. Once the renovation wraps up, all the newly donated equipment will be installed and fully operational to serve patients.
WRHA Board Chairman Eric Clarke highlighted the unique community impact of the foundation’s work, noting that most of the funding for the donation comes from vacationing guests who choose to give back to the Jamaican communities they visit. “It is a totally amazing programme where people pay for their vacation to Jamaica and actually give something back, other than at the restaurants,” Clarke explained. “To the guests that come to Jamaica not only enjoy your hotel, but you give back directly to the health care in the community… I think that’s absolutely amazing.”
Roan Grant, Chief Executive Officer of Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, expressed profound gratitude for the donation, noting that in the months following the hurricane, clinical staff have been forced to work with severely outdated and insufficient equipment. “We deeply and gratefully, with a generous heart, accept these donations of medical supplies and equipment, which come at a most critical time and timely moment for our institution. Your support significantly strengthens our capacity to deliver quality healthcare and enhance our ability to serve our patients with greater efficiency and compassion,” Grant said. “This contribution is not only a gift of resources but also a meaningful investment in the well-being of the community we serve.”
With Couples Resorts operating two popular properties in Negril, Issa reaffirmed the foundation’s long-term commitment to supporting the hospital, which serves as the core healthcare provider for local residents and visitors to the region. “We want to continue in our little way to help — and we plan to,” he assured attendees.