The Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) has offered $5 million worth of cardiac screening services to high school athletes who participated at the 2015 Wesley Powell Heart Institute of the Caribbean Track and Field Meet, which took place on Saturday at Excelsior High.

In making the announcement, Professor Ernest Madu, chairman and CEO of HIC, explained that the offer is a “gift that will benefit the athletes and coaches of the participating high schools and will be applied in equal amounts towards cardiovascular screening at HIC to identify and manage young athletes at risk for sudden death during sporting events”.

“Sudden death among young athletes is a major concern around the world and appropriate cardiovascular screening designed to identify and prevent these events is imperative, particularly in a country like Jamaica, where sports is a significant part of our national culture and heritage,” he added.

This donation is the latest in a series of free screening offers to young athletes by the HIC, which is in its second year of a $10-million four-year gift to the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association towards free cardiac screening to the CARIFTA athletes.

Now in its second year as title sponsor of the Wesley Powell meet, the HIC says this donation is also its way of reaffirming its commitment to Jamaica and Jamaican track and field athletics.

The schools that will benefit from the HIC’s latest offer include Excelsior High, Camperdown High, St Jago High, Jamaica College, Kingston College, and Wolmer’s Boys’ and Girls’.