Jamaica launches health review following Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization, has launched a comprehensive Health After Action Review (AAR) following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s emergency preparedness, response and recovery systems.

The two-day review opened Tuesday at Moon Palace Jamaica, where PAHO/WHO Representative to Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, Ian Stein, praised the leadership of Jamaica’s health authorities and frontline workers during the crisis.

“I would like to acknowledge, very deliberately, the commitment and courage of Jamaica’s health workers, emergency responders, and public servants, who continue to serve communities under extraordinarily difficult conditions. That dedication is not taken for granted. It deserves to be recognised,” Stein said.

He highlighted what he described as a powerful example of resilience in the aftermath of the hurricane, noting that attendance records showed public health workers in the hardest-hit areas reported for duty at the same levels as those in less affected regions.

“That is an extraordinary testament to their professionalism and commitment,” Stein added.

The After Action Review, recommended by the World Health Organization and aligned with the International Health Regulations, is designed as a structured and reflective exercise to identify strengths, uncover challenges, and guide improvements in national health emergency systems.

“This is not an audit or an evaluation. It is a process of collective learning — understanding what worked well, where challenges arose, and how systems can be strengthened for the future,” Stein explained.

Participants are also being encouraged to engage in candid dialogue about their experiences, including the emotional and human toll emergencies place on responders.

“Resilient systems are built not only on protocols and infrastructure but on people who feel heard, supported, and valued,” Stein noted.

He commended the Health Ministry for initiating the review in a spirit of transparency and continuous improvement, describing the move as reflective of strong governance and Jamaica’s commitment to advancing national health security in line with regional and global standards.

PAHO is providing technical facilitation, methodological guidance and regional expertise for the exercise, while ensuring that all findings and lessons remain nationally owned.

“This is Jamaica’s review, Jamaica’s learning, and Jamaica’s path forward,” Stein said.

He also reaffirmed PAHO’s continued support for Jamaica beyond times of crisis.

“We stand with Jamaica in the important work of learning, strengthening, and building the way forward together,” Stein added.