Mandeville, Jamaica…[Nigel Coke/IAD]
Hundreds of Seventh-day Adventists members converged in the Jamaican parishes of St. Catherine, St. Thomas and Clarendon to support those affected by Hurricane Dean, the category 4 storm which passed just south of the island last month. Dean's violent 145 mph winds and torrential rain caused extensive property damage and left many homeless.
“I am badly in need of help,” said 85 years old pensioner Thomas Collins.
Mr. Collins who lives alone at Dry Hill, Portland Cottage, Clarendon, was one of many asking for help from residents of that community, which was severely damaged. Mr. Collins’ two bedroom house, which was damaged from Hurricane Ivan in 2004, is without a roof. His bedroom, which is partially covered with a tarp, is at the mercy of the elements of nature.
Church members visited seven communities and distributed 2,000 food baskets, as well as water, mattresses, tarps and blankets to the needy residents. Doctors from the Andrews Memorial Hospital (AMH) set up a makeshift clinic at the Old Harbour Bay Adventist Church where hundreds of children and adults received free medical check-ups and medications. Lecturers and students from the Behavioral Sciences department of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) were also on hand to provide counseling to traumatized members of these communities.
The initiative was spearheaded by the Adventist-laypersons Services and Industries (ASi) and lead by Pastor Patrick Allen, president of the church in the West Indies region.
In his appeal on behalf of many of the residents of these communities Pastor Allen asserted that the type of assistance needed at this time is one that goes beyond the boundaries of class, gender, religious or political affiliation.
“The needs that we have seen are great,” he said. “We have seen situations where the entire dwelling houses of persons have been demolished by the hurricane. We saw where persons are living and sleeping under trees with a few sheet of zinc leaning against it as walls and board as their mattress. I am indeed humbled and horrified by the situation and I pledge the commitment of the Adventist church in assisting in whatever way we can to help those affected to get back to their normal lives. We will have to come back to these areas and render more assistance,” he added.
Wayne Sawyers, whose house was destroyed, is now living under a coconut tree. He was given food and a blanket by the Adventist team and was very gracious.
“The zincs are okay,” said Wayne. “All I need is some lumber, nails and furniture and I will work with other men of the community to put it back together.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of residents packed the Old Harbour Adventist Church to receive a free medical check up and medications. Dr. Grace-ann Cooper, who is Chief Medical Officer at Andrews Memorial Hospital, was one of three doctors and four nurses at that location. She said the medical needs of the community were overwhelming.
“We saw over 170 persons and had to turn back some because of the time constraint,” said Dr. Cooper. “Most of the persons who were examined had fungal infection and skin rashes. Based on discussions with the residents during these examinations, there is need for adequate clean potable water for drinking and other domestic use in the community. There are several areas of stagnant water in the community, which must be addressed by the relevant authority urgently,” she lamented.
A make shift pharmacy on location stocked by the AMH and McFarlane’s Pharmacy, Old Harbour, dispensed pharmaceuticals free of cost to those who were seen by the doctors.
