THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jordan retrieved the insulin from the igloo on the verandah of his home in Whitehouse, Westmoreland. He skilfully inserted the needles into the bottles and was about to inject himself when his older sister got up to help him.

Not that he needed the help, as he has been taking insulin twice a day for almost his entire life. It has simply become a part of who he is, evident in the way he introduced himself: He shared his name, age and the school he attends and ended with the phrase “type 1 diabetic”.

As a child living with type 1 diabetes Jordan is among many children managing a noncommunicable disease (NCD) while depending on daily medication to stay alive.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition whereby the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to lifelong dependence on insulin therapy. Low levels of insulin can cause high blood sugar and serious health problems.

However, with the passage of Hurricane Melissa the familiar routine that helps to keep him alive has been thrown into uncertainty.

Unopened insulin must be refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C (36°F to 46°F) until the expiration date. With the loss of electricity after the hurricane Jordan has had no choice but to store his medication in an igloo.

“My mother bought two bags of ice and put them in an igloo and the cool water that comes from that, we use it to help keep the insulin cool so it doesn’t spoil,” he is quoted in a release from UNICEF Jamaica.

Power lines in his community were destroyed and will take some time to be repaired.

With many stores still shuttered in the aftermath of the hurricane, ice has now become a scarce commodity. This has left Jordan and others like him in a dangerous predicament: The life-saving medication they depend on risks losing its strength without proper storage.

Then there’s the worsening food insecurity.

“Since the storm blew, my mother and father have been very stressed. I haven’t been eating much lately,” Jordan said.

Before Melissa he typically ate up to six times a day, which was necessary to help manage his blood sugar, but now, limited food supplies make that impossible, the release said.

“After the storm, people have been fighting over food, and because of this my parents won’t get any because they don’t like the shame. When someone passes by with free stuff, then we will go and get it so we don’t have to go in the crowd and get pushed down and get hurt,” he explained.

When asked what type of assistance he needs Jordan had only one personal request: “For me, I would want a container that can hold ice to cool the insulin.”

He also mentioned needs for his family, including a bed and TV for his mother, books and toys for his younger sisters, and a generator for his father.

But his concerns extend beyond his own family and home. The young Jordan urged support for his friends in the nearby community of Belmont in Westmoreland.

“Just look out for the Belmont people, they got it bad. I have two friends there whose houses were destroyed, and they have to stay in tents. Whenever I got sick at school they always looked out for me so I don’t want anything to happen to them, so just look out for the Belmont people, please,” he pleaded.

Despite everything, Jordan continues to display remarkable resilience, selflessness and gratitude. As he ended his interview he quietly added, “Life is good, give God thanks.”

UNICEF said it is supporting the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to deliver life-saving assistance to children and families affected by Hurricane Melissa.

According to the release, this includes:

• Providing essential health and nutrition supplies for children and their families

• Supporting the restoration of primary health services through mobile clinics, ensuring continuity of maternal and child care

• Delivering clean water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to affected communities

• Coordinating with partners to reach families with psychosocial support, child protection services, and urgent social and nutrition assistance

• Ensuring that children’s needs remain at the centre of emergency response and recovery, in line with UNICEF’s global commitment that every child has the right to survive, thrive and be protected, especially in emergencies.

UNICEF also said it will continue to work alongside national and international partners to ensure children like Jordan can access the care, supplies and support they need to stay healthy and safe as they recover from the storm.