October 19, 2026

320 WaterStep bleach makers to be distributed to health institutions and households

320 WaterStep bleach makers will be distributed to health institutions, households and other facilities across Jamaica.

The machines will assist these facilities with making their own chlorine disinfectant on site.

The initiative is being facilitated through the ‘Clean Care Jamaica: Parish Preparedness Project’, which is a partnership between WaterStep, an international non-profit organization focused on safe water, sanitation and hygiene, and Jamaican non-governmental organisation, Inspire and Serve.

WaterStep will provide equipment and operator training, while Inspire and Serve will lead in country coordination and support for the facilities served.

In a statement, WaterStep explained that the bleach makers will allow hospitals and health centres to confront infection control and sanitation issues, without relying on supply chains, which often fail during hurricanes and other emergencies.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Hogg said the machines will be able to create five litres of disinfectant within an hour.

While, Founder and Managing Director of Inspire and Serve, Jewel Daniels Radford said the initiative will bolster the ability of health facilities to treat with sanitation challenges in future disasters.

Under the proposed distribution plan, 280 bleach maker units will be distributed among the four regional health authorities.

Inspire and Serve will use 20 additional units directly for homes and care facilities it has identified that are in need of the equipment.

The remaining 20 units will be held in storage for emergency rapid deployment after a disaster or reserved for replacement of defective units.