Work is set to begin tomorrow (Sunday, November 2, 2025) for the installation of a field hospital in Black River, St. Elizabeth as recovery efforts and the provision of public health services continue following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, CD, MP disclosed details today (Saturday, November 1) during a press briefing at the Health Emergency Operations Centre. “Immediately, we will begin to deploy and to set up that facility. That facility will come fully equipped, which will include an operating theatre and other critical diagnostic equipment and some team members to support the local team,” the Minister said.

The need for a field hospital comes as the Black River Hospital sustained extensive roof and seawall damage and the facility’s operating theatre and administrative block are destroyed. The mobile-ready setup acts as a temporary medical facility offering essential and specialised medical services.

The field hospital will be set up in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, a faith-based organisation dedicated to disaster relief.

Given the kind of damage observed at other facilities, more field hospitals will be set up to offer critical care to those displaced and traumatised as a result of Hurricane Melissa. The other areas identified for field hospitals are Savanna-la-Mar General Hospital, Falmouth Hospital, Cornwall Regional and Noel Holmes Hospitals.

“We will also be installing field hospitals at the other facilities, with the support of the Pan-American Health Organisation, which has been a key partner in our national response efforts,” the Minister added.

Recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic response, field hospitals were deployed as part of emergency care management to handle surge capacity when hospitals were overwhelmed. When hospitals reach capacity, field hospitals act as overflow units.

For further information, please contact the Health Emergency Operations Centre at 888-ONE-LOVE (888-663-5683).