KINGSTON, Jamaica — Food For The Poor (FFP) will donate seven million 500mg paracetamol tablets to the Ministry of Health for island-wide distribution as the country grapples with the onslaught of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus.

According to David Mair, executive director at FFP, with the vast amount of Jamaicans complaining to have been infected with the virus and the possibility of many more becoming infected, the charity organisation acquired the paracetamol to distribute amongst needy Jamaicans who have ChikV.

“We know these tablets will assist many who cannot even afford the medicine necessary to aid in their recovery and I give thanks to our donors for reaching out to Jamaica in our time of need,” Mair said.

FFP said in a release today that the seven million paracetamol tablets will be transported to Jamaica in two phases. The first phase of 1.6 million 500 mg paracetamol tablets will be delivered by air freight to Jamaica on October 10, while the remaining 5.4 million tablets should arrive by ocean freight within three to four weeks.

In addition to the paracetamol, FFP says approximately 3,000 units of repellent will be brought into the island in another shipment and distributed to people who cannot afford the product, to assist in preventing ChikV.