A dedicated medical delegation from New York’s Emirates Facial and Dental Implants Center provided essential healthcare services to the hurricane-ravaged community of Westmoreland, Jamaica, during a four-day humanitarian mission from December 17-20. The team established operations at Little London Primary School, serving one of the regions most severely impacted by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa’s October 28 landfall.
The multidisciplinary team comprising dentists, psychologists, and nurses addressed both physical and psychological needs of affected residents. Morvia Reid-Williams, Chief Financial Officer of the medical center, reported significantly worsened conditions compared to previous visits, noting widespread trauma among survivors still struggling with daily subsistence.
Psychological support emerged as a critical component of the intervention, with over 50 children aged three to twelve receiving specialized trauma counseling. “When you’re a child, what happens to you sticks to you,” Reid-Williams emphasized, highlighting the importance of helping young victims process their hurricane experiences.
The medical team conducted comprehensive health screenings, checking hypertension and glucose levels while treating various physical ailments including wounds and fungal infections. Dental emergencies represented the most pressing concern, with more than 80% of patients requiring urgent oral care. The team encountered children as young as five suffering weeks of sleepless nights from severe toothaches and adults with facial distortions caused by advanced dental infections.
Through partnerships with United Mission of Goodwill and Jamaica 4 Life, the initiative distributed over 1,000 care packages throughout Little London. The outreach extended to Savanna-la-Mar Hospital’s maternity ward, where new mothers received infant care packages, while other hospital units obtained essential medications, wound care supplies, and surgical gowns.
The mission held personal significance for Dr. Dwight Williams, a Bronx-based oral surgeon born in Little London who maintains strong connections to his hometown through regularly organized medical missions. Hurricane Melissa’s devastating path through St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James, and Trelawny parishes resulted in 45 fatalities, widespread homelessness, power outages, and substantial damage to healthcare infrastructure and public facilities.