American humanitarian organization Direct Relief has been formally recognized for its two decades of ongoing support to Jamaica, receiving an appreciation award from the Save Our Boys and Girls Foundation Limited (SOBAGF). The foundation is operated by Juliet Holness, Speaker of Jamaica’s House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural.
Genevieve Bitter, Vice President of Operations at Direct Relief, detailed the long-standing partnership. The collaboration formally began in 2019 when Holness and representatives from Jamaica’s National Health Fund (NHF) visited the charity’s California headquarters. A key outcome was a commitment to bolster the island’s medical cold chain infrastructure, resulting in the installation of twenty pharmacy refrigerators across public hospitals in every region.
The partnership has since expanded in scope and formality. Direct Relief now maintains a formal agreement with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health. Holness has remained a central figure, notably serving as a keynote speaker at the 2023 Caribbean Resiliency Summit in Puerto Rico, an event supported by the organization.
A significant focus of Direct Relief’s work has been enhancing energy resilience in hurricane-prone areas. The charity has funded solar power installations for dozens of health centers across the Caribbean, including in Puerto Rico, Barbados, The Bahamas, and Jamaica. This infrastructure proved critical during Hurricane Melissa, where solar-powered facilities maintained electricity amid widespread blackouts, enabling a faster emergency medical response.
In Jamaica, specific projects undertaken with SOBAGF include community initiatives in Ursa, the solar electrification of the Mavis Bank Health Centre, and the construction of a playground at the Kintyre community center. Furthermore, Direct Relief is currently supporting the NHF with a solar installation for a national pharmaceutical warehouse, a vital hub for the country’s medication procurement, storage, and distribution network.
Bitter affirmed that Direct Relief’s commitment to Jamaica is enduring. Citing the persistent threats posed by climate change, she stated the organization’s intent to remain for years to come. This ongoing mission was recently demonstrated by the shipment of over $1 million worth of critical medical supplies—including antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, and protective equipment—to the Ministry of Health and Wellness following Hurricane Melissa.