In a powerful show of solidarity and service, dancehall icon Bounty Killer and American Grammy-winning producer DJ Khaled have stepped in with a massive J$8-million donation to four major hospitals across western Jamaica reeling from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa. The philanthropic move, executed through the Bounty Foundation and We The Best Foundation, saw each hospital—Savanna-la-Mar, Black River, Falmouth, and Cornwall Regional—receiving J$2 million to support critical repairs, emergency needs, and lifesaving equipment.
Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital, which suffered heavy infrastructural damage when the hurricane ripped open its tarmac and flooded its laboratory, says the funds couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. CEO Roan Grant shared that the hospital will immediately acquire two portable arterial blood gas (ABG) machines—vital for fast diagnoses in both the Accident & Emergency and Paediatric Departments. “These machines will significantly improve patient care in the most pressured areas of our service,” Grant noted, calling the artistes “benevolent givers” at a moment when the facility’s existing lab equipment had been knocked out of operation.
The impact stretches beyond one institution. Dr. Jevayne Mills, head of Sav’s A&E Department, emphasized how essential ABG machines are during emergencies, especially with hospitals stretched thin post-hurricane. “On behalf of the A&E, Paediatric Department, the hospital, and the wider Westmoreland community, thank you, Mr. Price,” he said, underscoring the real-time life-saving potential of the donation.
Bounty Killer, who has long used his platform for community upliftment, said the decision to focus on healthcare was clear after witnessing the temporary field hospitals erected in the hurricane’s aftermath. “The first initiative is go to the hospitals,” he said, stressing that the sector sits at the heart of Jamaica’s national recovery. He also praised the resilience of frontline workers and revealed plans for additional community care packages in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, DJ Khaled’s ongoing support for Jamaica through charitable partnerships further solidifies his foundation’s reach across the region.
As recovery efforts continue islandwide, the Bounty Foundation and We The Best Foundation’s contribution marks one of the most impactful entertainment-led philanthropic responses to Hurricane Melissa—setting the tone for more regional rebuilding efforts to come.
