WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — Residents here have welcomed the creation of a field clinic that will, starting today, provide well-needed medical services to the area and its environs after Hurricane Melissa damaged the facilities.

The field clinic was established by Samaritan’s Purse, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) that also established a field hospital in Black River to support the Black River Hospital in St Elizabeth that was also damaged by the hurricane.

“It is rough for the residents here, but with this [clinic] coming here temporarily, we are appreciative of it right now,” said Roman Jones, who lives in the White House Garden district.

Jones, who said he is also appreciative of other works being done within the community, has used the now-damaged centre in the past, and argued that without the field clinic it would have been a challenge for residents, some of whom would have to travel some 29 kilometres to the nearest facility.

“They would have to travel to the Savanna-la-Mar [health centre] because you know that Black River mash up right now,” he said.

Whitehouse falls within the constituency of Westmoreland Western which was devastated by the passage of Hurricane Melissa nearly two weeks ago.

Jones said prior to the hurricane, it would cost $700 for transport from Whitehouse to Savanna-la-Mar; however, he claimed that it is now costing significantly more.

Starting today, the field clinic will be offering services from several tents established on the grounds of a community centre located behind the original clinic that was damaged by the Category Five storm. The storm left the clinic without a roof.

“The clinic services will be up and running at Whitehouse, and the mobile pharmacy, between Hummingbird Charities, the National Health Fund, and the Ministry of Labour, will go into Eastern Westmoreland into the hills where they will treat patients, give them prescriptions, medications, and all of that,” Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton told the Jamaica Observer following a site visit Saturday.

During Saturday’s visit, the minister met with representatives from the NGO, a team of health workers, and the Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Eastern, Dr Dayton Campbell.

“Dr Campbell will help to coordinate some of the activities, given that he is not only a Member of Parliament, but he is a [medical] doctor and he knows the area,” stated Tufton.

Campbell thanked Samaritan’s Purse and the minister for what he said is a well-needed facility.

“The current facility that was in place is significantly damaged and we are unable to provide medical care for the residents of the area. And so this is something that we are extremely grateful for because we know that it will go a far way to ease the burden in this community,” he said.

Tufton said the field clinic will be staffed by the local team of health workers in the parish.