Supporting Cocoa Farmers Through Community-Based Healthcare Initiatives

Access to healthcare is crucial for cocoa farmers in rural Ghana, who often live in remote areas where medical services are difficult to access. Recognizing this significant challenge, Ferrero supported a community-based healthcare outreach pilot. Developed in collaboration with local partners, this initiative complements our existing sustainability programs and aims to improve the health and well-being of farmers and their families, addressing a vital need often overlooked in agricultural communities. 

When cocoa farmers are asked about their needs, they usually mention the necessity for agricultural inputs like fertilizers and cocoa seedlings. These resources are essential for improving farm productivity, increasing yields, and generating more income. Therefore, Ferrero provides these agricultural inputs through our comprehensive program, addressing cocoa farmers' needs. 

However, many farmers and their families face health issues, often without being aware of them. Yet, access to good healthcare for these communities in rural Africa can be challenging due to their remote location. 

In 2023, we supported the launch of a community-based healthcare outreach pilot in the Sefwi-Anhwiaso-Bibiani district, located in Ghana's Western North region. This initiative complements the holistic cocoa sustainability program that Ferrero and its partner Cargill initiated in 2019/20. Set up in collaboration with the St. John of God Hospital in Asafo and supported by the NGO HospitaalBroeders, the pilot aims to improve the livelihoods of farmer households, strengthen communities, improve nutrition and health.  

The pilot project exceeded expectations, with a total of 6,185 participants—more than double the original target. The health outreach teams were met with open arms in all eight communities, with high attendance rates at all healthcare activities. For many community members, it was their first health screening in years, revealing health issues that needed to be addressed.  

Dr. Patrick Bung, Director of the St. John of God Hospital in Asafo, shared his thoughts on the initiative: 

“I was very pleased to learn how valuable these visits to the communities were. People genuinely valued our presence. For many of them, this was the best opportunity for medical support in years. This positive feedback strengthened my teams, as they saw how much their help was appreciated by the communities.” 

Based on these positive results, we have decided to extend the health outreach pilot for another year in the same eight communities. In the second year, the objective is to establish smaller health clinics in some of the communities, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Services. This ensures that community members have access to good healthcare when they need it. These health clinics will be funded by the community members themselves, primarily through the funds from the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups. 

The success of the community-based healthcare outreach pilot marks a significant milestone in our holistic cocoa sustainability approach. By trying to address the healthcare needs of cocoa farmers and their families, we are trying to reinforce the foundation of our agricultural initiatives. We are working towards continuing this effort, establishing local health clinics, and ensuring lasting impact through continued collaboration and community engagement. 

Learn more about our cocoa sustainability program here.