CRH receives scrubs valued at $2m from US apparel company and charities
ST JAMES, Jamaica — United States (US) based medical apparel company, RepScrubs, partnering with Jamaican charity Sarah’s Children and Florida-based Jamaican-born nurse administrator Rolene Kerr Bowlin, has donated more than 1,400 disposable medical scrubs valued at over $2 million to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James.
The donation, which was formally accepted by Chief of Surgery Dr Dwayne Hall and the hospital’s administrative management team, is expected to deliver significant cost savings while strengthening infection-control standards at the institution, which continues to operate under pressure following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Chairman of Sarah’s Children, Janet Silvera, told reporters that the initiative was intentionally focused on supporting frontline healthcare workers during the recovery period.
“In any operating theatre or clinical space, scrubs are not just uniforms — they are a critical layer of protection,” Silvera said.
“Disposable scrubs reduce the risk of cross-contamination and ensure that doctors and nurses enter surgery in clean, uncontaminated clothing every time.”
Dr Hall said the donation would have an immediate financial and operational impact, noting that laundering reusable scrubs represents one of the hospital’s major recurring expenses.
“With over 1,400 disposable scrubs now available, those laundry costs are significantly reduced,” he said.
“These scrubs can serve the hospital for months, resulting in meaningful savings while improving efficiency in our operating theatres and clinical spaces,” he added.
He also underscored their role in infection prevention in a high-volume public hospital.
“Disposable scrubs eliminate the risks associated with reuse and handling, helping to reduce hospital-acquired infections and protect both patients and healthcare workers,” Dr Hall argued.
Silvera explained that the donation was mobilised swiftly after Florida-based partners alerted RepScrubs CEO Jeffrey Feuer to the post-hurricane challenges facing Jamaica’s health sector. Two pallets of scrubs were shipped to the island, with the National Health Fund facilitating expedited clearance.
The hospital’s management team described the donation as timely support that would ease financial pressures while helping to maintain high standards of patient care, highlighting the importance of international partnerships and diaspora engagement in strengthening Jamaica’s public health system during periods of national recovery.
