NEARLY 700 residents across Junction, New Market, Black River, White Hill, and Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth received free medical and wellness services during a five-day Medical Mission Health Fair just over a week ago.

Held under the theme ‘Five Locations, One Mission’, the outreach — staged from May 18 to 22 by AdventHealth and Andrews Memorial Hospital Limited in collaboration with the Jamaica Union Conference and West Jamaica Conference of Seventh-day Adventists — provided services which included doctors’ consultations, eye screening, pastoral and psychosocial care, provision of prescription medication, and dental care.

Residents who attended the health fair expressed gratitude for the free services, especially as many continue to face personal, health, and financial challenges months after Hurricane Melissa.

Jean Clark said she received a doctor’s check, a blood sugar test, and medication. She said the service was efficient and compassionate.

“The service is great. I came here late, but I was still able to get through on time. Everyone was looking out for each other and making sure that people got registered and were able to be seen,” she said.

Everett Thompson, a member of the Santa Cruz Seventh-day Adventist Church, said he heard about the health fair through church announcements and came to be screened. He said the initiative was timely for residents still recovering from the hurricane.

“Everybody is affected somewhere, somehow,” Thompson said, noting that road damage and accessibility remained major concerns in sections of the parish.

For Jacqueline Blake of Rocky Hill, the health fair provided access to services she might otherwise have struggled to obtain.

“I am especially grateful for blood pressure and blood sugar checks, eye screening, and medical advice,” she said, expressing further concern about additional tests she needs but cannot afford.

For organisers, the week was more than a health fair, it aimed to offer care and encouragement to communities still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island October 28, 2025.

Michelle Gross, director of operations at AdventHealth Global Missions, who was part of an 11-member team from Florida, United States, said the mission demonstrated the strength of collaboration between international and local partners.

Gross said the outreach brought together Andrews Memorial Hospital in Kingston, other local Jamaican business partners, and health institutions, along with AdventHealth’s team from Florida, USA, in a shared effort to serve communities in need.

“It’s been such a blessing to see the community that is rejuvenating and healing from Hurricane Melissa, and just the resilience of the community, and to be a part of a team that’s able to come and just do a little bit of help to get people back on their feet, get them feeling hopeful and healthy. We’re so grateful for the opportunity and we look forward to many more opportunities to come,” she said.

The experience for Shane Bedward, chief executive officer of AdventHealth Dade City in Florida, was quite meaningful, especially since he was born in Jamaica.

“It’s so great to come back home and to support the community where I spent my infancy stages, and so it’s just been a wonderful experience,” he said.

On the final day, Bedward reconnected with family members: “The entire experience was meaningful and a good way to give back.”

He further lauded the communities’ warmth and hospitality, adding that the team is looking forward to returning in October.

In solidarity, Andrews Memorial Hospital President/CEO Donmayne Gyles added that the outreach aligned with the hospital’s mission to help communities affected by the storm.

“Five days, five locations, one mission,” he said, thanking AdventHealth, the Jamaica Union Conference, the West Jamaica Conference, local pastors, volunteers, the Andrews Memorial Hospital team, and all sponsors for helping to make the outreach a success.

Pastor Vincent Rose, president of the West Jamaica Conference, praised the medical mission team for its significant impact while on location at the New Market Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was demolished by Hurricane Melissa.

“You are touching the lives of our members and the wider community,” Rose said. “The church finds relevance only when it is touching the lives of the people that it is called to serve, and this is a very tangible way, when you’re dealing with health, you’re dealing with life, and so we are really very, very grateful.”

Gyles reinforced that, “The mission brought more than just medical checks. It brought reassurance, compassion, and renewed hope for communities working to rebuild.”

A representative of Comprehensive Eye Care conducts an eye examination at the Black River location on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.