Black River’s lifeline: Samaritan’s Purse field hospital treats critical patients

With the Black River Hospital severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa—which brought sustained winds of 185 mph—and some medical facilities still inoperable, a rapidly deployed Emergency Field Hospital from Samaritan’s Purse has become the primary center of medical care in one of Jamaica’s hardest-hit communities in Western Jamaica.

“As of Tuesday morning, we have treated more than 450 patients at the hospital,” Cheryl Kaufman, RN, Lead Nurse with Samaritan’s Purse, told Caribbean National Weekly. Kaufman is currently on the ground in St. Elizabeth.

“The Emergency Field Hospital is capable of both major and minor surgeries. We are frequently seeing patients with seriously infected wounds and lacerations, along with fractures and breaks. We have conducted abdominal surgeries, repaired several fractures, and continue to operate each day.”

The field hospital is fully staffed and operating around the clock.

“The hospital is open 24/7, and we anticipate being here anywhere between 30 and 90 days,” Kaufman said. “At the end of our time on the island, we will turn over the hospital, fully equipped with all its supplies, to the Ministry of Health as a gift in Jesus’ Name.”

To support longer-term needs, the facility includes two inpatient wards.

“Each ward has twelve beds, and we use them for patients who need extended care,” Kaufman explained. “If a patient requires more care than we can offer, we partner with other facilities, including shelters for those who may no longer have sufficient housing.”

Samaritan’s Purse is relying heavily on local partnerships.

“We could not do what we do without our incredible local partners,” Kaufman said. “We have 250 church partners who kept us informed before, during, and after the storm. We have already begun integrating doctors and nurses from Black River Hospital, who we are training to eventually take over medical operations.”

Outside the hospital, relief supplies are being distributed to families who lost roofs or entire homes.

“People desperately need safe, dry shelter,” Kaufman stressed. “Tarps are crucial right now. Our distributions also include family water filters, hygiene kits, and solar lights.”

Reaching isolated communities has required creativity.

“Roads are still not fully accessible,” Kaufman said. “Air transportation has been a necessity as we work to reach remote areas desperately in need of assistance and medical care.”

Despite challenges, the team has seen encouraging victories.

“We treated a woman who had stepped on a nail and developed tetani—the bacteria that causes tetanus. Our team was able to intervene and stop her from developing tetanus, which would typically result in a two-week ICU stay,” Kaufman said. “We also had a seven-month-old baby with congenital heart failure who had to be airlifted to Kingston. Seeing him headed to better care was a huge victory.”

Kaufman urged continued public support.

“More than anything, the people of Jamaica need our prayers,” she said. “If you would like to find out more about our work, you can go to samaritanspurse.org.”