ST JAMES, Jamaica — Health services in St Elizabeth are steadily returning to normal, with most operations now back inside health centre buildings after months of being conducted in temporary tents following Hurricane Melissa.

Medical expert at the St Elizabeth Health Department, Dr Carol Hamilton said the parish has made significant progress in restoring its primary healthcare system, which was heavily impacted when 10 health centres and sections of the Department sustained damage during the storm.

She was addressing the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting in Santa Cruz on March 12.

Hamilton noted that the Black River Health Centre remains the only facility still operating under tent-based arrangements while restoration continues.

She said renovations at the New Market Health Centre have been completed, adding that the facility is now undergoing final clean-up and electrical work before fully reopening to the public.

Hamilton further indicated that the Ginger Hill, Springfield, and Prospect Health Centres remain without electricity; however, healthcare services continue at these locations despite the challenges.

Meanwhile, the St Elizabeth Health Department has placed strong emphasis on addressing public health risks in the aftermath of the Category-Five system, particularly mosquito-borne illnesses.

Hamilton indicated that the parish Aedes index – a key measure used to assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue – stood at 10.97 per cent in February.

She noted that this reflects a downward trend from the higher levels recorded in November and December, when the index rose to 12.7 per cent and 15.4 per cent, respectively, following the hurricane.

“I must commend the environmental team who have been out there doing the fogging at least twice daily to ensure proper control,” Hamilton stated.

She added that the current target for the parish Aedes index is to reduce it below six per cent, which was the pre-hurricane level.

In the meantime, Hamilton emphasised that although the flu season remains in effect until the end of March, the public is encouraged to take precautionary measures.

She advised that vaccines are available at all health centres and urged individuals, particularly the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, to continue wearing masks in crowded spaces.

— JIS