HerRelief Jamaica—a newly formed medical relief organization led by pharmaceutical executive and philanthropist Theresa White and Dr. Kerone Thomas, MD—is mobilizing a team of Jamaican-born female health professionals to deliver critical medical care to parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa.
The organization’s board brings together a diverse group of specialists: Dr. Nekeisha L. Walker, DHA, MBA, MHA; Dr. Georgia Forrest, MD, MBA, CPE; Dr. Sharon Robinson Rowe, DDS; Dr. Yeneisha Greene, MD; Sherie Nelson-Allen, educator and doctoral candidate in psychology; and Dr. Joan Thaxter Randall, D.Litt, Global Leadership Fellow and founder of Victorious You Press.
White said the initiative emerged from the “unprecedented devastation” caused by the Category 5 storm and the clear need for coordinated, sustained medical support in communities that remain without essential services. “This initiative reflects our commitment to using our skills, resources, and network to help our country recover and rebuild,” she noted.
The U.S.-based team will arrive in Jamaica on November 21, with plans for recurring visits to ensure continuity of care. Their first deployment will be in Westmoreland, where they will assess conditions on the ground and tailor interventions based on residents’ most urgent needs.
Beyond direct healthcare delivery, HerRelief Jamaica has already begun supplying critical essentials—including water tanks, Starlink internet systems, and generators—to communities in Trelawny, St. James and other affected parishes. The group is also collaborating with established humanitarian partners to coordinate the collection and shipment of medical and relief supplies.
White emphasized that HerRelief aims to close the widening gap between the needs of storm-ravaged communities and their limited access to quality healthcare. “Our goal is to provide immediate crisis-level medical care while also establishing a long-term support framework for underserved and displaced individuals,” she said. “Through ongoing missions, we seek to restore access to essential healthcare services, strengthen community health, and collaborate with partners to rebuild medical capacity.”
HerRelief Jamaica plans to offer a comprehensive suite of services, including primary and acute medical care, mental health support, dental treatment, medication distribution, basic emergency interventions and ongoing management for chronic illnesses. The group says these missions will continue over the coming months as communities work toward recovery and long-term resilience.
