In the weeks following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, an international medical outreach brought critical relief to residents of Little London, Westmoreland—one of the communities most severely affected by the storm.
Between December 17 and 20, a multidisciplinary medical delegation from the Emirates Facial and Dental Implants Center in New York transformed Little London Primary School into a temporary care hub. The six-person team—comprising dental specialists, mental health professionals, and nurses—provided urgent medical and psychological support to adults and children still grappling with the hurricane’s aftermath.
Unlike prior humanitarian missions, this visit revealed a population deeply burdened by trauma and prolonged hardship. Many residents were still struggling to stabilize their daily lives weeks after the Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on October 28.
Particular attention was placed on children, whose emotional well-being emerged as a pressing concern. More than 50 children between the ages of three and 12 received trauma-focused counselling aimed at helping them process fear, loss, and displacement. Alongside mental health support, the team conducted basic health screenings, treated wounds and skin infections, and monitored blood pressure and glucose levels.
Dental care quickly became the most urgent medical priority. An overwhelming majority of patients presented with severe oral health issues, including infections, untreated decay, and acute pain. Some young children had reportedly endured persistent toothaches for weeks, while adults showed advanced dental complications leading to facial swelling and infection.
Beyond clinical care, the mission extended practical assistance across the community. With support from local and international partners, more than 1,000 care packages were distributed throughout Little London. Additional supplies were delivered to the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, including personal care items for newborns, medications, wound-care materials, and surgical garments for medical staff.
The outreach held particular personal significance for oral surgeon Dr. Dwight Williams, whose roots trace back to Little London. Now based in The Bronx, New York, he continues to maintain strong ties to his hometown through recurring medical initiatives in Westmoreland.
Hurricane Melissa left a trail of destruction across several western parishes, including St Elizabeth, Hanover, St James, and Trelawny. The storm claimed 45 lives, displaced thousands, and caused extensive damage to homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. For communities like Little London, initiatives such as this medical mission provided not just treatment, but a vital signal that recovery had not been forgotten.
