In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which struck western Jamaica in October 2025, healthcare facilities and schools across the region have continued to operate under constrained conditions. At Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester Parish, clinicians have maintained patient care services while relying on paper-based records and limited equipment following the Category 5 storm.
Ongoing recovery efforts have extended beyond physical infrastructure to include restoring functional tools that support care delivery and education. As part of these efforts, the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) provided 599 Lenovo tablets through the nonprofit organization Right Now for Jamaica.
At Percy Junor Hospital, the devices are expected to support implementation of an electronic health record (EHR) system, replacing paper charts and facilitating more consistent documentation and access to patient information. In parallel, some of the tablets will be allocated to students affected by school disruptions, enabling continued access to educational materials.
For dental and broader healthcare professionals, the transition to digital recordkeeping represents a meaningful shift in clinical workflow, with potential implications for care coordination, data accuracy, and long-term system resilience in resource-limited settings.
"This donation represents more than disaster relief; it's about transforming healthcare delivery and educational access for communities that have never had these technological resources," said Maurice S. Miles, DDS, an ADEX examiner and board director for Right Now for Jamaica. "ADEX stepped forward immediately when we explained the need, asking simply, 'what can we do to help?' Their response demonstrates genuine commitment to the communities they serve."
Right Now for Jamaica, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in response to Hurricane Melissa, focuses on healthcare, education, infrastructure, and technology as pillars of long-term recovery. The organization collaborates with local stakeholders and diaspora communities to support sustainable initiatives rather than short-term aid.
"This valuable donation of tablets are currently being configured to provide the nurses, physicians and staff of Percy Junior Hospital access to technology,” said Dr. Trudy Hall, Health Committee Chair Medical Liaison for Right Now for Jamaica. “The devastation of Hurricane Melissa was felt as I walked the hospital wards and talked to the staff, they were dedicated to their community despite a lack of basic supplies and access. These tablets will be the platform for the new electronic medical records supported by Right Now for Jamaica and partners like ADEX. A portion of the tablets will go to area school children impacted to not interfere with their learning."
ADEX has conducted dental examinations in Jamaica since 2015, and the current initiative reflects a continuation of its involvement in the region. Similar efforts have been reported elsewhere, including a 2025 donation of 200 tablets to the Arya Samaj Gurukul girls’ school near Delhi, India, where devices previously used for dental licensure examinations were repurposed to support educational access.
As recovery continues in Jamaica, integration of digital tools into healthcare and education systems may play a role in strengthening service delivery and preparedness for future disruptions.
Figures and Images
ADEX tablet donation
