'I'm struck by the devastation and stoicism in Jamaica'

A British midwife helping those affected by Hurricane Melissa, which tore through parts of the Caribbean in October, is hoping she can "raise spirits".

Wendy Warrington, of Bury, Greater Manchester, has been "struck" by the impact on elderly people in Jamaica, where about 1.5m people have been affected - more than half of the country's population.

She is on her first mission with charity UK-Med, which is based in Stockport and is part of the UK's official humanitarian response.

"Their whole lives, their homes have completely gone," she told BBC Radio Manchester. Despite the difficulties, she adds: "There is a lot of stoicism, they are very much about getting through this."

Ms Warrington arrived in Jamaica on 10 November and was due to stay for four weeks, helping to provide communities with access to primary healthcare.

"Some are having to live with family and friends, or move into shelters," she said.

"They are literally there with the clothes they are standing up in.

"They have not had any access to healthcare.

"What I find most humbling is the deep intense gratitude we're getting from the Jamaican people for us being here," she said.

"The children, the schools that have been destroyed – they're so cheerful, they smile, they are so happy when we arrive."

Ms Warrington is part of medical teams providing support to Jamaican healthcare workers "so they can sort out their own issues because their homes have been affected and damaged".

She is working in Trelawny which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

"We're struggling with electricity, power outages and issues with running water," she said.

The charity Ms Warrington is working for is in Jamaica at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office with the approval of the Jamaican Ministry of Health and Wellness.

David Wightwick, chief executive at UK-Med, said their contribution to the Jamaican relief effort was "more of a recovery and support mission".

He added: "So the Jamaican government is pretty competent frankly and they've got a lot of very well-trained staff.

"What they need is that respite time to sort out their own clinics, to make sure that things are actually usable again, and time for the health staff to sort out their own problems because, of course, their own homes and families are severely affected."

Ms Warrington has helped treat various health issues but is yet to deliver any babies during her time in Jamaica so far.

However, while taking the train from Manchester before her London Gatwick flight, she ended up attending to a pregnant passenger who experienced a membrane rupture.

The train was stopped at Milton Keynes so the woman could be transferred to paramedics.

"She sent me a lovely message to say that she was so glad that the train that she got to that morning – that I was on it, and that was really lovely."

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