CTMH Doctors Hospital – Hurricane Dorian – Bahamas Relief Efforts

CTMH Doctors Hospital bands together with other local healthcare facilities to donate towards the Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief efforts. Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas on the 1^st of September as a Category 5 Hurricane, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record to hit land, packing top sustained winds of 185 mph. Officials have erected large tents in Nassau to house those made homeless by Dorian. They took action with tent cities on the Abaco islands to shelter up to 4,000 people. Here in Cayman, those that remember Hurricane Ivan can relate to the terrors of such an impactful storm.

On Monday September 9^th, The Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin travelled on a Cayman Airways flight to The Bahamas. The flight carried medical supplies donated by three local hospitals, HSA, CTMH Doctors Hospital and Health City. The donations from CTMH Doctors Hospital included 1,078 pounds of medication and medical supplies valued at about $50,000 (KYD). The medical caches, which contain everything from first-aid suppliers to vital medications for chronic diseases and allergic reactions, were developed with experts to save lives. “It is so great to stand united with our healthcare system and provide relief to our fellow islanders,” says Dr. Patrick Auman – Hospital Administrator.

Over 75,000 people have been affected and an estimated 15,000 people are in need of humanitarian aid. Response efforts have been complicated by the lack of essential infrastructure and telecommunications. The loss of power is ongoing but slowly being restored with cellular connectivity and Emergency Operation Centers across both islands. Immediate needs including medical treatment, healthcare supplies, food, security, water and evacuation continue to be top priorities for the Bahamian government and response agencies. Dorians death toll currently stands at 50, but over 1,000 people are still missing.

At CTMH Doctors Hospital, our hearts are with the families and friends in the Bahamas. Best wishes to the people of Abaco Islands and Grand Bahamas. It is times like these that we can show our true nature by helping provide charity to those in need and raise the quality of life in our Caribbean waters.