The Indian Government on Thursday opened a four-day relief aid mission in Jamaica, airlifting a fully equipped portable hospital, medical personnel, and up to 20 tons of humanitarian aid, extending critical support to the island’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa’s onslaught.

Upon the arrival of the C-17 Air Force aircraft, Indian High Commissioner Mayank Joshi told journalists that the aid included tents; bedding; mattresses; solar lanterns; food kits; hygiene kits for women, men, and children separately; echocardiogram machines (ECGs); and nearly four million water purifier tablets.

At the heart of the mission, however, is the Arogya Maitri Disaster Hospital, also known as the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hitra and Maitri (BHISHM) health cubes, which, Joshi explained, is an innovative mobile medical unit designed for rapid deployment in crisis zones.

“It’s a big hospital packed into 72 boxes. Each box is around 15 by 15 inches. It has got several high-tech equipment which are needed immediately for intensive care. So you can take it to the centre of the affected area and set up an intensive care unit. Medical kits are also there which are replenishable. Once used, you can replenish it immediately with the normal hospital arrangements,” said Joshi.

He added that each box could be transported by road, air, and along water bodies. “You can carry separate cubes and then together as a unit by road, by air, by drones. There are also portable boats, small remote control boats which can take these cubes through water areas where there is flooding. So it’s a very nice, new advanced intensive care unit,” explained Joshi.

The Indian diplomat further shared that four medical experts who came aboard the aircraft would be involved in training with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and paramedics to help with the effective use of the portable hospital.

Joshi pledged his continued support to Jamaica, telling the media that India’s strong friendship with Jamaica and his country’s belief in urgency when faced with disaster are what propelled his Government’s response to help Jamaicans who were devastated by the storm.

“India and Jamaica are very close friends and there is immense goodwill between the two peoples. We are very closely linked historically, culturally… Considering this, immediate relief is a great source of encouragement, and it’s a gift from the people of India to the people of Jamaica.

“I continue to work with the Office of Disaster [Preparedness and Emergency Management] and the Foreign Affairs Ministry here to see how India will continue to support. It is the least the Indian Government could do at this time,” he said.