An Americares health care professional provides a consultation to a resident in Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. Americares has announced that it plans to provide about 3,500 free patient consultations from February 2020 through June 2020.

An Americares health care professional provides a consultation to a resident in Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. Americares has announced that it plans to provide about 3,500 free patient consultations from

An Americares health care professional provides a consultation to a resident in Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. Americares has announced that it plans to provide about 3,500 free patient consultations from February 2020 through June 2020.

An Americares health care professional provides a consultation to a resident in Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. Americares has announced that it plans to provide about 3,500 free patient consultations from

Americares to expand Bahamas health care programs

STAMFORD Disaster-relief nonprofit Americares announced plans this week to expand its services during the next four months in the Bahamas, which was devastated last year by the Category 5 Hurricane Dorian.

Medical teams from Americares will provide free primary care and mental health services, seven days a week, on the Abaco Islands to support more hurricane survivors. The Stamford-based agency said it is working with the Bahamas Ministry of Health to implement its Commitment to Action for 3,500 patient consultations through June.

Nearly six months after Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas, thousands are still recovering and need ongoing support, Americares Vice President of Emergency Programs Kate Dischino said in a statement. We are committed to meeting the physical and mental health needs of survivors as they begin returning to their communities in Abaco.

Since Dorian struck Abaco, Americares said it has provided more than 4,200 medical and 2,500 psychosocial support consultations and delivered more than $2.6 million worth of medicine, medical supplies and relief items for families affected by the disaster.

Dorian ranked as the strongest storm of the 2019 hurricane season and the second-most-powerful Atlantic hurricane on record when it made landfall as a Category 5 storm in Abaco on Sept. 1.

The storm made a second landfall in Grand Bahama, where it hit the island with powerful winds and heavy rain for more than 40 hours.

An estimated 13,000 homes were severely damaged or destroyed and 70,000 people were displaced after the storm, according to Americares.

Among other initiatives around the world, Americares has deployed 11 mental-health specialists to treat survivors of the earthquakes that last month hit Puerto Rico.

Next month, Chief Development Officer Christine Squires will take over as the organizations new CEO and president.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott

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Americares to expand Bahamas health care programs - The Advocate