How Does RIU Hotels Support Children’s Health in Jamaica through the Negril Orthopedic Clinic?

10 July, 2025 Share

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RIU Hotels & Resorts has collaborated for over 16 years with the Negril Paediatric Orthopedic Clinic in Jamaica, a project providing free care and specialized devices to children with mobility issues across the island. In 2025, the project consolidated as the Elaine Allen Bradley Paediatric Orthotic Foundation, introducing permanent physiotherapy services.

What is the Origin of the Alliance Between RIU and the Negril Community?

At RIU Hotels we believe our commitment to destinations goes beyond tourism. Our history in Jamaica began in 2001 with the opening of Riu Palace Tropical Bay, and it was in this very location where we launched our first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in the country.

Since 2009, we have joined forces to ensure the Negril Paediatric Orthopedic Clinic serves as a beacon of hope. What started as a medical mission of volunteer specialists from the US and Canada is now a reality that has transformed the lives of hundreds of Jamaican families.

Project Impact: Figures and KPIs of the Orthopedic Clinic

To understand the scale of this commitment, we have compiled the main milestones of our collaboration in the following social impact table:

Key Fact: The clinic ensures that children with physical disabilities can regain their mobility, integrate into the school system, and enjoy a full childhood.

What’s New in the Project’s 2025 Phase?

In June 2025, we took a giant leap forward. Not only do we continue to support the four annual brigades of specialists, but we have also driven the creation of a physiotherapy service that operates year-round.

Through RIU’s Proudly Committed sustainability strategy, we have funded critical structural improvements:

• Construction of a new waiting area and total roof renovation.
• Creation of a technical office for the physiotherapy department.
• Acquisition of state-of-the-art medical equipment.
• Formalization of the project as the Elaine Allen Bradley Paediatric Orthotic Foundation.

The official inauguration was supported by Christopher Tufton, Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness, reaffirming the importance of this public-private alliance.

Would you like to learn more about our social initiatives in the Caribbean?

We invite you to discover how we work every day to generate a positive impact in the communities that host us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What services does the Negril Orthopedic Clinic provide? The clinic offers diagnostics, orthopedic treatments, delivery of orthotics, wheelchairs, walkers, and, as of 2025, a permanent physiotherapy service for children with mobility issues.

2. Who is eligible for care at the foundation? The service is completely free and aimed at children with physical disabilities or lower limb deformities, from both the Negril area and across Jamaica.

3. How does RIU Hotels specifically collaborate with this project? RIU finances the rent and maintenance of the center, covers accommodation logistics for volunteer doctors, and has funded recent structural renovations and equipment purchases.

4. Who was Elaine Allen-Bradley? She was a retired nurse with a deep social commitment who led the organization of the medical brigades. In her honor, the clinic has been officially renamed the Elaine Allen Bradley Paediatric Orthotic Foundation.

5. What is the “Proudly Committed” strategy? It is RIU Hotels’ sustainability vision that guides our social and environmental actions, ensuring our presence in destinations like Jamaica contributes to the actual well-being of the local population.