Donation brings comfort to young patients at Cornwall Regional Hospital
Published:Sunday | March 23, 2025 | 9:51 PMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Twenty-four children in the paediatric ward at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay, St James, will benefit from the donation of three portable air-conditioning units, courtesy of Dr Jodine Jackto-Tafari, founder of AccuLab Diagnostic Centre.
The AC units, valued at a combined $240,000, were provided in collaboration with the philanthropic Janet Richards Foundation. A brief handover ceremony took place on Monday, attended by members of the foundation and Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon.
Speaking to The Gleaner, Jackto-Tafari shared that her contribution was a way to give back to the Cornwall Regional Hospital, where she began her medical career as an intern before establishing AccuLab Diagnostic Centre.
“Having been an intern at CRH, I’ve seen firsthand the various needs at the hospital. It’s my passion to drive healthcare improvements, and I hope AccuLab can partner with CRH to provide faster, more efficient, and accurate test results for the western region,” she said.
Jackto-Tafari emphasised the importance of reliable special testing, which often requires sending samples outside Montego Bay for results. “We need to reach a point where we can fully trust these results, allowing for better treatment planning,” she added.
Monday’s donation follows a similar contribution from the Janet Richards Foundation in December 2024, when the organisation provided another AC unit to the paediatric ward.
Janet Richards, the foundation’s founder, praised Jackto-Tafari’s commitment to giving back to the hospital where she trained.
“A lot of young people don’t understand the deep fulfillment that comes from giving back. Seeing Dr Jackto-Tafari share that same passion – to help others from the place where she started – is truly rewarding,” Richards said.
Meanwhile, Casandra Jones-Watson, nurse manager of the paediatric ward, welcomed the donation, noting that the units would provide much-needed relief for young patients during the upcoming summer months.
“We are incredibly grateful for this donation. Our ward can get extremely hot in the summer, so these units will make a significant difference,” said Jones-Watson.