Nearly one year after Hurricane Melissa, International Medical Relief joined Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries and the Sean Paul Foundation to bring medical care and recovery support to 928 residents in Bluefields, Jamaica.
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Nearly 1,000 Residents Reached in Two Days
Published September 3, 2026: Over two days in Bluefields, International Medical Relief and its Jamaican partners brought a broad range of healthcare services directly into the community, helping residents access care in one location rather than traveling long distances between providers.
A 27-member IMR medical team supported the outreach, and 928 residents received medical assistance during the two-day event. The response included general medical care, dental services, diagnostic testing, vision care, maternal-fetal ultrasound, pediatric and back-to-school physicals, women’s health services and community health education.
The outreach also extended beyond the main clinic. IMR clinicians completed nine home visits for residents who were shut-in, indigent or unable to travel to the event. Patients seen in their homes ranged in age from 40 to 87 and included individuals living with hypertension, prior stroke, diabetes and chronic pressure ulcers.
Mobility support, including canes and a walker, was also provided to help residents move more safely and independently.
Bluefields Rising was part of the continuing recovery from Hurricane Melissa, which left families across western Jamaica facing damaged homes, disrupted services and ongoing healthcare needs.
A Broad Range of Care
The clinic was designed to address both immediate health concerns and ongoing healthcare needs.
Services included:
- 264 dental patients, including approximately 106 extractions
- 11 maternal-fetal ultrasounds
- 24 back-to-school medical examinations
- 29 acupuncture treatments
- 28 massage therapy sessions
- 211 glucose tests
- 84 urinalyses
- 299 vision-related encounters
Women represented approximately 71 percent of those accessing medical services, while the outreach also served children, working-age adults and senior citizens throughout the Bluefields community.
For many residents, the value of the outreach was not only the number of services available, but the ability to access them close to home.
Sean Paul expressed appreciation for the physicians and medical professionals who traveled to Jamaica to serve the community and emphasized the importance of making healthcare more accessible to families who may not otherwise have easy access to medical support.
Bluefields Rising demonstrated what can happen when medical expertise, local knowledge, community relationships and volunteerism come together around a shared purpose.
Care Beyond Healthcare
Bluefields Rising was designed to support more than immediate medical needs. The outreach also connected residents with practical resources that can make a meaningful difference during long-term recovery.
At the close of each day, volunteers from Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries and the Sean Paul Foundation distributed care packages containing food, hygiene products and personal-care items to residents who received care.
Approximately 100 residents also received assistance with passport applications, including people seeking to replace important documents lost during Hurricane Melissa.
The outreach received additional support from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and United Way Jamaica, further strengthening the network of services available to the Bluefields community.
These efforts reflected the broader purpose of Bluefields Rising: bringing healthcare, recovery support and essential services together in one place so families could access help close to home.
Beyond the Numbers: Bluefields Matters
The impact of Bluefields Rising cannot be measured by numbers alone.
In just two days, nearly 1,000 members of the Bluefields community received healthcare, education, comfort and essential resources. But the deeper impact was the message behind the outreach:
Bluefields matters.
International Medical Relief worked alongside Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries, the Sean Paul Foundation, Jamaican community partners and local volunteers to turn a shared vision into action.
The partnership brought together medical expertise, local knowledge, trusted community relationships and volunteerism around one common purpose: making care and support more accessible to families still rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa.
A Partnership Built Around Community
Sean Paul, the Sean Paul Foundation, reflected on what it meant to see so many residents receive care: “Nearly 1,000 people receiving medical attention — that’s just awesome to me.” He also expressed appreciation for the physicians and medical professionals who traveled to Jamaica and shared his hope that the outreach would give residents encouragement and positive energy for the future.
Karla Prentiss, Chief Operating Officer of International Medical Relief, captured the spirit of the response simply: “The enormity of Bluefields Rising cannot be measured in numbers alone.” For IMR, Bluefields Rising demonstrated what becomes possible when committed partners combine local relationships, medical expertise and a shared commitment to serving the community.
This is what partnership looks like. This is what community looks like. This is what impact looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bluefields Rising was a two-day health and recovery initiative held in Bluefields, Westmoreland, on August 22–23, 2026.
International Medical Relief joined Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries and the Sean Paul Foundation to bring medical care, dental services, diagnostic testing, vision care, health education and essential recovery resources directly into the community.
A 27-member IMR team helped provide care to 928 residents in two days, while the wider outreach also connected families with food, hygiene supplies, personal-care items and other recovery services.
International Medical Relief’s documented work in Jamaica dates back to 2022, when IMR began deploying teams to support healthcare access, community outreach and health education.
Since then, IMR’s work has continued to grow through relationships with Jamaican healthcare providers, community organizations, government partners and corporate partners, including InterEnergy beginning in 2025.
That long-term commitment became especially important following Hurricane Melissa, when IMR returned to support affected communities through disaster response, medical care, medications, health education, home visits and recovery assistance.
Bluefields Rising represents the continuation of that commitment—not a one-time event, but part of IMR’s ongoing relationship with Jamaica.
International Medical Relief began its Hurricane Melissa response at the invitation of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness and was on the ground within 48 hours of the hurricane.
During the first two weeks of response, IMR teams provided medical care, pharmacy support, home visits, wound care, mental-health education, food distribution and hygiene-kit distribution in affected communities.
In Week 1, IMR served 63 patients and provided an estimated $246,567 in healthcare and humanitarian value.
In Week 2, teams served 97 additional patients, with an estimated $298,802 in value.
Across those first two weeks alone, IMR’s response represented more than $545,000 in healthcare and humanitarian support.
IMR continued returning to Jamaica after the initial emergency, helping communities move from immediate disaster response toward longer-term healthcare access and recovery.
During the two-day outreach, 928 residents received medical assistance.
The clinic served children, working-age adults and senior citizens, with women representing approximately 71 percent of those accessing medical services.
IMR teams also completed nine home visits for residents who were shut-in, indigent or unable to travel to the main clinic site, bringing medical care and mobility support directly into their homes.
Bluefields Rising offered a broad range of medical, dental, diagnostic and vision services.
Care included primary and acute medical treatment, dental examinations and extractions, glucose testing, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, maternal-fetal ultrasound, back-to-school physicals, EKGs, acupuncture, massage therapy, women’s health services, pediatric care and community health education.
Dental teams treated 264 patients, while the outreach also included 211 glucose tests, 84 urinalyses, 11 maternal-fetal ultrasounds, 24 back-to-school medicals and 299 vision-related encounters
Bluefields Rising was designed to address more than immediate healthcare needs.
At the end of each day, volunteers from Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries and the Sean Paul Foundation distributed care packages containing food, hygiene products and personal-care items.
Approximately 100 residents also received assistance with passport applications, including individuals who needed to replace important documents lost during Hurricane Melissa.
The outreach also received support from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and United Way Jamaica, helping connect residents with a broader network of recovery services.
Bluefields Rising was made possible through collaboration.
International Medical Relief worked alongside Judy Mowatt Outreach Ministries, the Sean Paul Foundation, Jamaican community partners, local volunteers, members of the Jamaica Lions, government agencies and other organizations committed to helping Bluefields recover and thrive.
The outreach demonstrated what becomes possible when medical expertise, local knowledge, trusted community relationships and volunteerism come together around a shared purpose.
There are several ways to support IMR’s continued work in Jamaica.
Volunteer. Medical and non-medical volunteers can join future IMR missions and help provide healthcare, health education and community support where it is needed most.
Volunteer with International Medical Relief:
https://internationalmedicalrelief.org/join-the-cause/volunteer-with-us/
Give. Donations help IMR deploy qualified medical teams, medicines, clinical supplies, diagnostic resources, hygiene items and other essential support to communities in Jamaica and around the world.
Donate to International Medical Relief:
https://internationalmedicalrelief.org/join-the-cause/donate/
Support long-term recovery. Hurricane recovery does not end when the immediate emergency passes. Continued support helps communities maintain access to healthcare, replace essential resources and rebuild stronger over time.
Share. Help keep attention focused on the people and communities of Jamaica by sharing IMR’s work and encouraging others to get involved.
IMR remains committed to standing with Jamaica through response, recovery and long-term healthcare access.
Recovery After Hurricane Melissa
Nearly one year after Hurricane Melissa, families in Bluefields and surrounding communities are still living with the effects of the storm. Some homes continue to show visible damage, while residents have faced disruptions in healthcare, essential services and access to important personal documents.
Bluefields Rising was designed not only to provide medical care, but to support the broader recovery process by bringing healthcare, essential resources and community services directly to residents.
For International Medical Relief, disaster response does not end when the storm passes. Recovery continues long after the immediate emergency, and sustained access to healthcare is an important part of helping communities rebuild.
