In a display of generosity and professional unity, the Jamaica relief drive is one step closer to sending much-needed aid to the hurricane-damaged country.

Thanks to the hard work of Barbados Community College (BCC) nursing student Reba Watts, the initiative has gathered numerous hygiene products to send to the country and is currently waiting on transportation to get the donations where they’re needed.

Thanks to the Barbados Nursing Association’s (BNA) assistance, organisers hope that the products will get there shortly.

This collaboration was facilitated by the Barbados Student Nurses Association (BSNA), which regularly work alongside the senior association and was aware that the BNA was getting ready to ship their own products to Jamaica.

“BNA supports anything that BSNA does, and the two associations collaborate wherever the opportunity arises,” said the BSNA President, Timeka Layne.

The BSNA president explained that such collaborations were vital to the continued efficiency and impact of the associations, amplifying their voices and expanding their opportunities.

“National associations bring experience, credibility, policy influence, and access to wider resources, while student or local associations bring fresh perspectives, current realities, and the lived experiences of those on the ground.”

BCC tutor and President of the BNA, Dr. Fay G. Parris, applauded the student’s efforts and extended her support of the BSNA and the initiative.

“We see the student nurses as our future and we want to make sure that they are mentored appropriately and that they are assisted with their ventures so that they know that their leadership is respected and needed.”

She explained that while they initially planned to send their donations with the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), they have since considered other options and are currently pursuing alternative means of transporting the much-needed assistance.

While the donations are yet to reach Jamaican shores, the BCC is proud of the support the college body has given in aid of the initiative and looks forwards to future updates.