Residents of battered South West St Elizabeth were the beneficiaries of a major field operation response mobilised on November 8, following the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. 

The effort was led by Member of Parliament Floyd Green and organised by advisor and hurricane relief coordinator, Kenneisha Campbell, who directs the South West St Elizabeth Relief Command from The Summit in New Kingston.

The operation brought together disaster relief teams from MobiCare Medical, JPS Foundation, National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) and the South West St Elizabeth Relief Command.

Together, the partners established a central command base at Don’s Motor World in Black River and deployed personnel across multiple communities to provide medical care, psychosocial support, electrical and home-repair assistance and critical relief supplies.

Over 100 members of the MobiCare team were involved, including 35 medical doctors, 21 nurses, 9 medical students and 46 volunteers and support staff, bringing the total to 111 personnel. They registered 209 patients, treated 172 at the base and reached an additional 34 residents through field operations. A total of 100 prescriptions were also filled both onsite and through mobile support, helping to meet urgent health needs.

The National Parenting Support Commission deployed 31 team members who operated in Brompton, Fyffes Pen, Shrewsbury and Selington. They distributed 50 relief packages, along with clothing and bottled water, and offered psychosocial support to more than 50 households, providing trauma counselling, guidance for parents navigating behavioural changes among children, prayer and messages of encouragement.

In total, the NPSC reached 63 households across the four communities.

The JPS Foundation contributed 40 personnel to the operation, working across Black River, Parottee, Slipe and Punches. The team cleared three damaged homes, supported the rebuilding of two others and removed dangerous wires and poles to help secure affected households.

Under the South West St Elizabeth Hurricane Relief Command banner, 24 volunteers worked throughout Fort Charles, Brucefield, Knoxwood, Hopewell, Ridgepen, Mountainside, Round Hill and Burnt Savannah. They distributed 650 care packages, along with clothing and tarpaulins, to families facing severe damage and loss.

Reflecting on the day’s mission, MP Floyd Green said, “It’s heartbreaking to see so many of our families hurting, but it’s also a reminder of how powerful we are together. People showed up from near and far; doctors, linemen, parents, young people, church teams, neighbours. Everyone just came together. Today was about reminding our people that they are not alone. We will continue to show up, again and again.”

For her part, Campbell, who organised the field operation response and coordinates the relief efforts for the rural constituency, added, “We met families who lost everything; homes, livelihoods, treasured memories. And still, they welcomed us with grace and hope. This work is about helping people regain strength and dignity. This field operation response was community in its purest form. We have a long way to go, but we are committed to walking every step with our people and the people of South West St Elizabeth. The relief effort continues at The Summit, 16 Chelsea Avenue, where donations are received daily and trucks with aid supplies are dispatched into St Elizabeth every day.”

The relief teams will continue to assess needs across the constituency and revisit households requiring additional support while coordinating medical care, psychosocial services and rebuilding assistance.

Additional deployment dates are being planned to ensure that families most impacted continue to receive support.