THE LIVES of 26 diabetic inner-city youths should improve significantly, courtesy of a donation from Jamaica Drink Company (JDC) under its Diet Bigga brand which will assist them to purchase well-needed insulin to improve their condition.
Drawn from various low-income communities, the youngsters who range from age six to early teens will get the support under a new thrust by the Diabetes Association of Jamaica (DAJ) to sponsor the purchase of insulin for these needy children.
TRIPARTITE VENTURE
The support is being facilitated through a tripartite venture involving Diet Bigga, the National Health Fund and the government's Drug Serve Pharmacy.
Beneficiaries are required to register with the National Health Fund (NHF) and are able to make discounted purchases at the Drug Serve Pharmacy, which is paid for in part by the Diet Bigga contribution.
WORKING WITH YOUNGSTERS
The association estimates that locally some 300 children are diagnosed with diabetes and has explained that, while children are not a major focus of the DAJ, in recent time the association has been working with a group of youngsters who find themselves in challenging economic circumstances.
The donation of $115,670, representing one of several tranches of funds contributed by JDC, was presented recently at the DAJ Health Fair at its Downer Avenue address to commemorate Diabetes Aware-ness Week.
Since 1997, $5.00 from the purchase of every case of Diet Bigga goes to the association and was initially used for the now-completed renal unit.
