UK Sends Emergency Medics to Jamaica After Hurricane

• UK medical team to bolster stretched services in Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, providing vital care.
• The Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) was deployed following an official request from the Government of Jamaica to deliver life-saving care and support recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa.
• The team will provide urgent care for injuries, maternal health, and hospital referrals for further treatment - reinforcing local healthcare capacity and supporting Jamaica's recovery.
• The mission will deliver mobile medical clinics in areas where health services have been severely disrupted, ensuring communities have access to urgently needed services.

The UK has sent a 12-person team of GPs, nurses, midwives, and logistics experts to Jamaica to deliver life-saving care and support recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with the first clinics opening today (Monday 17 November).

Backed by the UK Government, the team will operate mobile medical clinics across affected regions. The deployment reflects the UK's commitment to harnessing technical expertise to strengthen Jamaica's health system.

The team will provide direct healthcare in communities where facilities have been damaged or destroyed. This includes urgent care for injuries and infections, maternal health needs, and referral of the most serious cases to hospital for further treatment.

The first mobile clinics opened today in Jackson Town, Ulster Spring, and Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny.

This package comes after the UK mobilised a comprehensive package of humanitarian assistance to support Jamaica's recovery. To date, the UK government has delivered 6,560 shelter kits, 1,100 hygiene kits and more than 6,700 solar lanterns, reaching more than 33,000 people affected by the hurricane. The Royal Navy's HMS Trent was also deployed to assist with local recovery efforts, with British personnel helping to restore vital infrastructure including undertaking emergency repairs at Falmouth hospital.

Minister for the Caribbean, Chris Elmore, said:

We have all seen the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa - and the UK is doing its bit to help Jamaica recover in the aftermath.

The medical team will provide vital treatment and care for those affected, as well as helping local services while they are stretched and working in difficult conditions as they build back from the impact of this hurricane.

David Wightwick CMG, UK-Med CEO, said:

The hurricane has left hospitals damaged and health workers stretched to their limits. Our surge team will help keep essential services running while supporting the Ministry of Health and Wellness as it restores Jamaica's healthcare system.

Our response is about solidarity as much as clinical support, standing alongside our Jamaican colleagues as they rebuild.

Notes

• The UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) is the UK's official humanitarian health response mechanism, backed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and operated by UK-Med. It provides rapid, high-quality emergency healthcare during disasters and disease outbreaks around the world, in partnership with affected governments and the World Health Organization. UK-Med is a UK-registered charity based in Manchester, with more than 30 years of experience responding to health emergencies worldwide.
• The UK is delivering a multi-faceted health response in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, as the storm has severely damaged health infrastructure and increased the risk of water- and vector-borne disease outbreaks due to flooding. The UK is working with international partners to support affected communities - helping to restore health facilities and strengthen disease surveillance through the Pan American Health Organization, and ensuring access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene with UNICEF. Support also includes providing mosquito nets and repellents to prevent diseases like malaria and dengue.
• The FCDO and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are also working closely together to support the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) - providing funding for essential public health supplies - including diagnostics, laboratory capacity, infection prevention materials, and other essentials.
• Funding will also support the deployment of regional public health specialists to strengthen laboratory capacity, monitor disease trends in shelter settings, and provide technical input to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions aimed at preventing disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the hurricane. This joint response builds on strong existing partnerships and demonstrates the UK's continued commitment to supporting recovery, resilience, and health security in the Caribbean.