Kingston, Jamaica, 18 November 2025 (PAHO) — With health services disrupted across the island´s southern and western parishes, power failures rippled across the health system, putting vaccines, insulin, and other temperature-sensitive medicines at immediate risk. To keep lifesaving care within reach, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), working closely with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Jamaica´s National Health Fund (NHF), has moved fast to stabilize power and protect the cold chain where it matters most.
Through this collaboration, WFP has provided two critical pieces of emergency equipment to strengthen health operations: a 20-foot pharmaceutical-grade refrigerated container ("reefer") and a 16 kVA diesel generator. The refrigerated container will store and transport temperature-controlled supplies and essential medicines, while the generator will provide backup power for medical equipment and communications, capable of running for approximately one week on a full tank.
Today, the refrigerated container symbolizes collaboration and resilience. Temporarily stationed at Mandeville Regional Hospital, it helps protect essential medicines while recovery continues. This joint effort by PAHO, WFP, and the NHF shows how partnership and preparedness sustain health systems during disasters.
For health workers across the affected parishes, reliable power and proper storage for medicines are crucial to maintaining services. The effort reflects how resilience depends not only on infrastructure, but also on planning, coordination, and a collective commitment to maintaining care in difficult times.
PAHO remains committed to supporting Jamaica’s recovery and strengthening the resilience of its health system. As recovery continues, every generator in use, safe vial of medicine, and reopened clinic demonstrates that preparedness and collaboration sustain hope after any storm.
