On April 30, Brigadier General Alcides Faria, the U.S. Army South Deputy Commanding General for Interoperability, toured the USG funded mobile field hospital currently deployed in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, along with State Minister, Ministry of Health and Wellness, The Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn. This field hospital is the first of what will be three mobile field hospitals donated by the United States Government to the Government and people of Jamaica.
During his visit, the U.S. Delegation discussed a second USG funded mobile field hospital that arrived in Jamaica in early April and BG Alcides announced the delivery of a third mobile field hospital from U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) to arrive in the coming months. USSOUTHCOM intends to donate one of the mobile field hospitals to the Jamaican Defense Force Disaster Assistance Response Team to amplify their response to a local or regional humanitarian crisis or sudden onset disaster. The hospital donated in September 2020 is currently being used to support patients impacted by the COVID-19 virus, demonstrating the versatility of these mobile units.
Once the second mobile hospital is placed and the third mobile hospital is delivered, Jamaica will be home to the largest mobile field hospital capability in the Western Hemisphere. Each mobile field hospital is valued at J$106 million dollars. USSOUTHCOM continues to seek opportunities to partner and collaborate with Jamaica’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts to synchronize future emergency response. Mobile field hospitals give the JDF an expeditionary capability in the event a national or regional response is required.
BG Alcides’ visit highlights the enduring US-Jamaica partnership and serves to further strengthen cooperation on disaster relief response to Jamaica. He met with representatives of the Government of Jamaica, including the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and JDF leadership. The Brigadier General’s visit strengthened ties with key stakeholders on disaster response in Jamaica, helping reaffirm coordination mechanisms, while identifying potential areas for further cooperation