The Dutch military forces, a Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) partner in Hurricane Dorian relief efforts, arrived in Abaco island on Wednesday aboard a Netherlands Royal Navy vessel. In coordination with the Ministry of Health of Bahamas and PAHO/WHO, they will support the country and other health partners on the principle of health for all.

The ship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, contains a hospital, as well as vehicles for land, air and marine transport, and a team of health professionals, engineers and marines from the Netherlands, France and Germany. On Wednesday, the Chief Medical Officer of the Bahamas, Dr. Pearl McMillan, and Deputy Medical Officer, Dr. Delon Brennon, met with representatives of PAHO/WHO and the Dutch military forces in Abaco to coordinate their support in order to better serve the needs of the population most affected by the Hurricane.

The team will focus their work in Marsh Harbour and north Abaco, two of the most affected areas. They will provide medical care, cleaning and emergency efforts in health centers, support for disease surveillance, and will also remove any vehicles and infrastructure that are blocking access to clinics on the island.

On Thursday morning the Dutch military forces evacuated a pregnant woman from Abaco who required urgent, specialised medical attention. The young woman, who was 8-months pregnant, arrived on Wednesday at the Marsh Harbour Healthcare Centre and was immediately attended by staff from the clinic, which is partially operational 24-hours a day with a body of staff that rotate every 5 days and live in the clinic.

Bad weather conditions in the afternoon and evening delayed evacuation of the Dutch military helicopter, but the woman was treated and stabilized by health care staff from the clinic until the evacuation could take place. Yesterday they also helped the World Food Programme to montar a logistic Hub in the Marsh Harbour government port, were the building have been destroyed by Hurricane Dorian.