KINGSTON, Jamaica— The National Health Fund (NHF) and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ) have renewed an $8.2 million contract to cover free screenings to the public for various conditions.

The sponsored tests include electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, haemoglobin, HBa1c, body mass index (BMI) and vision screening.

The NHF said that the multimillion-dollar contract will cover approximately 12,500 screening tests, and will be executed as outreach activities at several locations across the island.

“The Heart Foundation of Jamaica and the NHF have been in partnership for approximately two decades in an effort to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and boost health responsibility,” NHF said.

In addition to fighting NCDs, the NHF provides subsidies to NHFcard holders including those living with rheumatic fever/heart disease, ischaemic heart disease, vascular disease and other heart-related conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.