Cornwall Regional Hospital roof repaired

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says roofs at the Cornwall Regional Hospital have been fully restored just three weeks after they were destroyed by Hurricane Melissa.

The repair work was funded and organised by MSF and carried out by local contractors. The Pan American Health Organization also contributed.

"This marks a significant milestone in the recovery plan and allows the hospital to resume minimal operating capacity in selected wards," A media release from MSF on Friday said.

Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage to the facility, with 81 per cent of the hospital’s total roof surface damaged or blown off. Critical areas—including accident and emergency, maternal health, the laboratory, and the nursery were affected, leading to severe flooding and rendering many parts of the hospital inoperable.

“With the Cornwall Regional Hospital roofs completed, authorities can now focus on restoring the hospital to its pre-Melissa capacity,” said MSF Emergency Coordinator Estifanos Mengitsu.

“There is still more to be done,” Mengitsu continued. “We are doing everything in our capacity to support the authorities and ensure that the remaining health-care needs and gaps are covered.”

MSF says it is closely collaborating with the Ministry of Health and parish health authorities to identify other damaged health facilities in Jamaica and begin reconstruction as soon as possible.

MSF is also supporting clinics, including Maroon Town and Cambridge, with medical supplies and medicines that were destroyed due to roof damage and subsequent flooding during the hurricane.

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