The Barbados Defence Force’s (BDF) Field Medical Hospital will be deployed to Jamaica from November 18 to December 18, 2025, to provide emergency medical support, following the passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa last month.

Chief of Staff of the BDF, Brigadier The Honourable Carlos Lovell, announced the mission, which has been dubbed Operation Helping Hands, during a press briefing this morning at St. Ann’s Fort, The Garrison, St. Michael.

He said the BDF’s Field Medical Hospital would temporarily replace the public health care systems normally provided by the Savannah Lamar Public General Hospital in Westmoreland, which along with other hospitals, has been operating beyond capacity after sustaining significant water damage.

He explained they were operating with limited infection control, reduced surgical capability, and were finding it difficult to deliver the usual public health care services. He noted the operation was at the request of the local officials.

Brigadier Lovell said that according to the government of Jamaica, the current death toll stands at approximately 45 persons, with 15 individuals still missing. Additionally, he added that approximately 90,000 families in the western region were directly impacted, with significant damage or destruction reported to over 120,000 structures, including homes, schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities, among others.

The BDF head further stated that from a humanitarian and public health perspective, the impact on the healthcare systems has been acute.      

“Currently, the Barbados Defence Force has been able to mobilise our complement of approximately 48 members of the military and also medical practitioners from across public and private health care in Barbados. The approximately 22 vacancies will be filled through the generous assistance of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and also members of the Jamaica Defence Force.

“The Field Medical Hospital offers a wide range of services… such as surgical care, primary care, water purification, pharmaceutical distribution, and it also will be able to provide the same medical services that a public general hospital can provide in times of disaster.

“I wish to assure the impacted communities and people in Jamaica that Barbados stands with you in your time of need as one Caribbean family and help is on the way,” Brigadier Lovell outlined, adding that there will be a rotation of two staffing complements of 70 persons each, over the four week-period.

The mission is being undertaken in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados, the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Jamaica, the Jamaica Defence Force, CARPHA, the Pan American Health Organization, The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Emergency Management in Barbados, and a number of other regional and local organisations.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Arthur Phillips, gave Barbadians the assurance that the local health system would not be compromised by the deployment.                                 

“The Ministry of Health has carefully reviewed the names and categories of staff and the duration of the rotations to be able to ensure that essential services within our health system will continue uninterrupted. The Ministry supports the humanitarian efforts, and we will be working closely with our colleagues in the Barbados Defence Force to ensure the efficient deployment of the team,” he stated.

Lieutenant Colonel David Clarke, the Medical Liaison Officer with the BDF’s Field Medical Hospital, said that of the 40 accredited Field Medical Hospitals globally, Barbados was ranked at No.28. It also has the distinction of being one of only three army Field Medical Hospitals in the world.

CIBC, through its ComTrust Foundation, has given financial support to the Field Medical Hospital to ensure the success of its operation in Jamaica to the tune of US$250,000.

CEO of CIBC and Chair of the CIBC ComTrust Foundation, Mark St. Hill, said 670 of the organisation’s 2,700 staff were located in Jamaica. “I commend the Barbados Defence Force for all that it is doing. I think as Barbadians, we have to be extremely proud. This is something we are extremely proud to be associated with…,” he stated.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Published: November 12, 2025