Caribbean innovation shines with self disinfecting door handle

Rayvon Stewart’s self disinfecting door handle illustrates rising Caribbean science talent and practical problem solving.

Jamaican student builds self disinfecting door handle for hospitals

Rayvon Stewart, now 30, conceived Xermosol when he was a 23-year-old student at Jamaica’s University of Technology. The model uses ultraviolet light to disinfect the door handle after each touch and is described as killing 99.9% of pathogens while remaining safe for people and animals. The invention is patented under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Patent Cooperation Treaty and has earned Stewart Jamaica’s Prime Minister’s National Youth Award and the Commonwealth Health Innovations Awards. At a product launch, Caricom official Alison Drayton called it a meaningful solution for the region and a life-saving design that fits our reality.

Experts say the device should complement existing cleaning guidelines, not replace them. University of the West Indies microbiologist Dr Camille-Ann Thoms-Rodriguez notes the door handle is an innovative infection control tool that works alongside standard practices. The broader Caribbean tech scene is growing, with firms such as BairesDev reporting a surge in Caribbean applications for software roles between 2020 and 2024, a trend linked to pandemic-driven demand for digital solutions. Stewart says the moment shows the region is capable of life changing technology and is challenging myths about where innovation comes from.

The case spotlights how a small economy can contribute to global tech through universities, mentors, and regional networks. It also raises questions about how soon such prototypes can scale into production and how they fit into healthcare regulation. For Caribbean developers, the story confirms a shifting attitude toward entrepreneurship as a valid path, not just a hobby or side project. Yet real progress will depend on financing, manufacturing partners, and safety testing across markets.

If the region can turn more prototypes into market ready products, Caribbean tech could reshape its reputation and create local jobs. But the path from garage idea to hospital hallway is long. Policymakers, funders, and health authorities must align standards, supply chains, and accountability to turn potential into reliable technology that protects patients and workers.

Highlights

If Caribbean innovators keep turning ideas into usable products, the region could redefine its global tech footprint.