The Chinese Navy's hospital ship "Silk Road Ark", on its "Harmony Mission 2025" mission, carried out multiple surgical operations in Jamaica's Montego Bay on Saturday, easing pain for local patients still reeling from October's powerful hurricane.
On October 28, Jamaica was struck by a severe storm, which put the local healthcare system under immense pressure. Many patients urgently needing surgery have been waiting for treatment as the island suffered medical facility damages and resource shortages.
The Silk Road Ark arrived at Montego Bay on Thursday for a 12-day visit. At the request of the Jamaican side, the Chinese hospital ship will dock at three ports in Jamaica - Montego Bay, Kingston, and Falmouth - to provide medical services to local residents.
Anthony, a 38-year-old Montego Bay resident, had endured three years of recurring abdominal pain and bulges in both groins and his navel. His surgery has been delayed due to limited medical capacity. Seeking treatment on the ship, Anthony's surgery was completed within hours of admission.
"Awesome - everything is very awesome. Everybody works together. Everybody is clean, everybody is friendly, they attend to you at the same time," he said after the treatment.
To keep Jamaica's overstretched medical system afloat, the ship and the local health department opened a fast-track channel, streamlining screening, pre-op checks and scheduling for maximum throughput.
"We've done 14 surgeries today, running four operating rooms at the same time. After a long voyage, high-intensity surgery is a real test of our staffing, equipment and workflow. We set up every equipment in advance, optimized the deployment of our medical staff, stocked ample supplies and followed strict protocols to make sure every operation was finished quickly and safely," said Jiang Xin, a doctor on the hospital ship.
Since arriving in Montego Bay, the "Silk Road Ark" has seen almost 2,000 out-patients, and performed 267 surgeries and procedures, including cataract removals, hernia repairs and gastroscopies.
Chinese hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" delivers post-hurricane medical aid to Jamaica
