Aventa Jamaica Limited led a medical outreach on Saturday, December 6, themed “Jamaica, Rise”, in partnership with the Sizzla Youth Foundation and the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, to deliver free health care and emotional support to residents of Belmont in Westmoreland.

The mission brought together volunteer medical professionals, including psychiatrists, opticians, general practitioners, and registered nurses, alongside cultural advocates, and corporate volunteers to serve one of the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, October 28.

The Category 5 cyclone caused severe structural damage, extensive flooding, and prolonged power outages across Westmoreland, leaving many residents without access to basic services and health care. In response, Aventa Jamaica spearheaded this initiative to mobilise teams and partners to support families as they begin the long road to recovery.

Throughout the day, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, residents received a holistic intervention which included health screenings: blood pressure and blood glucose testing, eye tests, doctor consultations, and mental health consultations. While awaiting care, community members were engaged in cultural performances, dancing, and games.

For the children, bounce-a-bout rides, the treats of snow cones, popcorn, and prizes brought moments of joy and relief after weeks of hardship.

Aventa Jamaica’s leadership stressed that this initiative is aligned with the company’s mission to ‘Advance Health and Enhance Lives’ and this is a meaningful contribution to the impacted communities, as their access to health would have been severely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Reflecting on the outreach mission, Glenise Durrant, CEO of Aventa Jamaica, noted: “We are grateful for the support of the Sizzla Youth Foundation, Jamaica Medical Doctors Association, and volunteer doctors as we visited Belmont, Westmoreland, for our medical mission, which is dubbed, ‘Jamaica, Rise!’ We are truly excited to have our partners and staff working together to uplift the community. This initiative is something that we are very passionate about; it really embodies our mission of Advancing Health and Enhancing Lives.”

The mission’s psycho-social component was a central feature of the day’s agenda. Renowned cultural advocate and storyteller Dr Amina Blackwood-Meeks hosted interactive storytelling sessions focused on emotional healing and resilience.

“It is my absolute honour to participate in this relief and recovery effort. I’m here to support the emotional well-being of the community, especially the children, helping them talk through their experiences and recognise that their stories matter. This mission is about resilience. We’re not giving up; we’re going to build back stronger,” she shared.

Recording artiste and founder of the Sizzla Youth Foundation, Miguel ‘Sizzla Kalonji’ Collins, emphasised the importance of unity and upliftment during this period of national recovery.

“The whole initiative is to help my people of Jamaica who’ve been affected by Hurricane Melissa, to lift their spirits, boost morale and inspire them to be more than what they are today. We’re here in Belmont with doctors, nurses, and volunteers from Aventa Jamaica to bring care, wellness checks, and unity. One for all, all for one. When we work in this manner, there shall be no failure. This is the time to care and share. You know what I mean, put on that humanitarian hat. Rastafari love,” he stated

The day concluded with the distribution of more than 350 care packages to residents, further supporting households still recovering from the hurricane’s impact.

The “Jamaica Rise” Medical Mission forms part of Aventa Jamaica’s broader Hurricane Melissa response, which has included multi-parish relief deployments, emergency supplies, and sustained support for healthcare providers across the island. The company reaffirms its commitment to standing with affected communities as they heal, rebuild, and regain stability in the months ahead.