Two students living with sickle cell disease and who are currently attending tertiary institutions have received financial assistance totalling $160,000 from the LIME Foundation to assist with the cost of their tuition for the 2012-13 academic year.

The bursary scheme which was launched in 2006 in partnership with the Sickle Cell Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona, was established to assist students with the disease who, in addition to their regular school-related expenses, have to contend with the cost of health care and medication.

Coy Hall, who is pursuing a degree programme in the Faculty of Humanities & Education at the University of the West Indies, was awarded $80,000, as was Tariq Edwards, who attends the University of Technology and is undertaking a course in electrical engineering.

At the presentation, Errol K. Miller, chairman, LIME Foundation, said: "These are individuals who are trying to reach their full potential despite the challenge they face from having to deal with the sickle cell disease. We know that they will have more medical expenses than the average student, and this is our way of giving them a hand."

Bursary scheme

The bursary scheme is a continuation of LIME's long association with the Jamaica sickle cell community. The company has provided assistance to the Sickle Cell Unit in several areas over many years, including providing the funding of $7 million which was used to build the Sickle Cell Education Centre at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, in 1995.

The CWJF/Sickle Cell bursaries are awarded annually and are open to Jamaican residents with sickle-cell disease (not the trait) who have been accepted at any post-secondary skills-training establishment or any degree or diploma-granting institution registered with the University Council of Jamaica.