A major Field Operation Response was mobilised across St Elizabeth South Western on Saturday following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The effort was led by Member of Parliament for the constituency Floyd Green and organised by his advisor and hurricane relief coordinator Kenneisha Campbell, who directs the programme from The Summit in New Kingston.

The operation brought together the MobiCare Medical Disaster Relief Team, the JPS Foundation, the National Parenting Support Commission 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.

More than 100 members of the MobiCare team were involved, including 35 medical doctors, 21 nurses, nine medical students and 46 volunteers and support staff. 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 on-site and through mobile support, helping to meet urgent health needs.

The National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) 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 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.”

Campbell said 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.

Members of the JPS Foundation team repair a damaged house in St Elizabeth South Western, part of ongoing efforts to restore safety and stability to families affected by Hurricane Melissa

Doctors and volunteers from the MobiCare Medical Disaster Relief Team provide on-site consultations and wound care during the St Elizabeth South Western Field Operation Response.