Diaspora doctors drive relief effort

Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-02 | Original Article

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the HerRelief Jamaica Foundation has mobilised recovery efforts across affected communities, coordinating medical supplies and support with backing from the Jamaican diaspora.

 

Founded to serve vulnerable groups, the foundation activated its emergency response network within hours of early storm-damage reports. Diaspora medical professionals — including doctors, nurses, therapists and public health specialists — began organising shipments of essential supplies to Jamaica.

 

Executive director Theresa White, a Jamaican-born pharmaceutical executive, said the call to mobilise came naturally.

 

“When we saw the first images coming out of St Elizabeth, we knew this wasn’t just another storm. It was a medical crisis in the making. As Jamaican women in medicine, we take it personally. These are our families, our communities,” White said.

 

With support from co-founder Dr Kerone Thomas, the foundation has not only provided urgent medical care to residents in Westmoreland but has assembled care packages containing wound-care kits, blood pressure machines, medication for chronic illnesses, sterile supplies, and children’s hygiene essentials.

 

According to the foundation, diaspora contributions have enabled rapid restocking of emergency relief items.

 

“Even when we cannot be on the ground, we can guide, support and help stabilise people. The diaspora is a lifeline — our training, our resources, and our love for home all come together in times like these,” White said.

 

HerRelief Jamaica is preparing to deploy another small team of volunteer medical personnel to affected parishes for community clinics, with special attention to the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

 

Volunteers from local churches, youth groups, and civic organisations have joined foundation teams to pack supplies and conduct welfare checks among the elderly and single-parent households.

 

Foundation representatives stressed that while the first round of emergency supplies has been critical, long-term recovery will require sustained support, particularly for low-income families whose homes suffered major damage.

 

Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Melissa, collaboration between Jamaicans at home and abroad continues to inspire hope. The foundation announced plans to expand relief outreach in the coming weeks, focusing on restoring essential services and providing psychosocial support.

 

“Relief is not just about showing up in the first week. We are committed to rebuilding, supporting health systems, and empowering women at every level. Hurricane Melissa hit hard, but Jamaicans are harder to break,” White said.

 

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com

 

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