BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — A coordinated response from the Seventh-day Adventist community and its partners has delivered approximately US$60,000 in medical supplies and equipment to Black River Hospital, as the institution continues its recovery post-Hurricane Melissa.

The handover, led by Andrews Memorial Hospital Limited last week Monday, included a range of health supplies and 50 Hewlett-Packard laptops, highlighting what church leaders described as an ongoing commitment to recovery rather than a one-time donation.

Andrews Memorial Hospital Limited President and Chief Executive Officer Donmayne Gyles said the support reflects promises made during an earlier post-hurricane visit and the willingness of partner organisations to respond.

“We are truly delighted to support Black River Hospital with these gifts,” Gyles said. “When we visited previously, we made it clear that our support would not end there, and today we are here to reaffirm that commitment. This is not the last.”

Gyles said the St Andrew hospital reached out to AdventHealth, which responded by sending a container load of medical supplies to support the recovery effort. He also credited the GSI Foundation — the charity arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church — which helped facilitate the shipment into Jamaica.

He further noted that the Jamaica Union Conference has accepted Black River Hospital as one of the institutions being supported during this season of rebuilding.

While acknowledging that large-scale infrastructure restoration may require broader interventions, Gyles said practical assistance, including supplies and equipment, remains a meaningful part of the process.

“One thing is certain. The Church in Jamaica and Andrews Memorial Hospital remain committed to supporting Black River Hospital in the rebuilding process after Hurricane Melissa,” he said.

Representing newly elected Jamaica Union Conference President Pastor Glen Samuels, Pastor Charles T Brevitt, vice-president of the West Jamaica Conference, framed the donation as part of a faith-based response to crisis.

“We often say that in every setback there is a set-up for a comeback,” Brevitt said. “While the hurricane brought destruction and hardship, we also want to make use of the opportunity that has emerged from that devastation to support rebuilding and restoration.”

Brevitt said the value of the donation underlined the seriousness of the support effort.

He added that the Church and its partners hope the supplies will strengthen services at the hospital and support residents in St Elizabeth and surrounding communities who depend on the facility.

Meanwhile, Black River Hospital Chief Executive Officer Diana Brown-Miller welcomed the donation and said the inclusion of laptops was especially timely, given the operational pressures staff have faced after hurricane-related damage.

“The computer made me smile,” Brown-Miller said. “This is the season when we are doing appraisals, and last year we struggled tremendously because we did not have enough computers. The few we had were also damaged when the hurricane came. Now, having enough so that each department can receive one makes a big difference.”

She also commended the relevance of the medical supplies received.

“As we looked at each item, we could clearly see that these were not random donations. They were thoughtful, practical, and very important to the work we do,” she said.

Brown-Miller noted that Black River Hospital serves a wide catchment area, including communities in Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, St James, Manchester, and St Ann, and continues to grow services even during recovery, including the addition of an anaesthesiologist in January and orthopaedic services over the past year.

Also welcoming the handover was Jody-Ann Porter, customer care officer at the Southern Regional Health Authority, who praised Andrews Memorial Hospital for following through after an earlier visit.

“I remember that at the time Mr Gyles said this would not be the last visit,” Porter said. “So, today, we are truly happy to see that he has followed through on his word and returned— and not only returned, but returned with even greater gifts for the hospital.”