Sandals Foundation delivers modular units to restore outpatient care at two hurricane-hit hospitals

Outpatient care at Falmouth Public General Hospital in Trelawny and Noel Holmes Hospital in Hanover is moving closer to a full return after Sandals Foundation handed over four modular buildings to each facility. The package is worth just under $21 million and was financed with money raised at the Harmonies of Hope Hurricane Melissa Aid Concert in Canada in December 2025, one month after the Category 5 hurricane tore through Jamaica’s south-western and north-western parishes.

“Many of our critical care buildings were significantly damaged or completely destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, leading to an interruption of patient services and a shortage of space to treat patients at the hospital,” a Sandals Foundation release quotes Falmouth Public General Hospital CEO Carlington McLennon. “With these new modular units serving as vital hubs for immediate family care, the resources of the hospital will be directed to critical emergencies,” he added.

Outpatient departments typically offer shorter waits and quicker visits, allowing patients to receive check-ups, diagnoses, treatment, and same-day care without an overnight stay. At both sites, one module will house and secure medical records, while the other three will support outpatient work.

Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke said restoring the island’s health-care capacity marks an important step on the recovery path. “Our Jamaican families and medical providers have been undeniably resilient since the October 28 storm, and the proper restoration of health-care services is a critical component of any effort to rebuild lives and communities. We are committed to working alongside the Ministry of Health and Wellness as they rebuild, and supporting our medical professionals to safely execute their duty of care and facilitate comfortable spaces for families to access the treatment they need for their well-being,” the release quotes Clarke.

Geraldine Isaac, executive director of Food For the Poor Canada, said the joint effort matched both groups’ missions. “After a storm, families aren’t just rebuilding roofs — they’re trying to protect their health, care for their children, and hold on to hope. We’re deeply moved by the way the Jamaican Diaspora and Canadians across the country have rallied around Jamaica, and we are proud to partner with the Sandals Foundation to help restore access to critical health services when communities need it most,” Isaac said.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton thanked donors and pointed to long-standing collaboration with the private sector in health delivery. “We are grateful for the continued support of the Sandals Foundation,” he said. “Even as we continue to rebuild and improve health service delivery, especially now for parishes recovering from Hurricane Melissa, this donation has bolstered our efforts and propel us further down the wicket to realising the best health outcome for all Jamaicans.”

The Harmonies of Hope Hurricane Melissa Aid Concert took place in Toronto, Canada, on December 10, 2025, raising money for several Jamaican non-profits carrying out priority recovery work. The It Factor Ltd organised the event with backing from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), giving members of the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada a way to show solidarity with the homeland. “We along with the JTB were able to execute a beautifully curated concert that offered sponsors, partners, and donors the ability to gather in hope, love, and harmony for Jamaica.” the release quotes The It Factor Ltd President Natasha Borota.

Support for Falmouth Public General and Noel Holmes hospitals is among several initiatives Sandals Foundation is funding from concert proceeds. Earlier this year, working with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the foundation supplied building materials for roofing, structural repairs, and housing rebuilds under TEF’s Tourism Housing Assistance & Recovery Programme. In coming weeks, the foundation said it will also deliver major infrastructure assistance to The University of the West Indies Western Jamaica campus in St James.