Building the Bridge to Globally Inclusive Healthcare

In a noble effort to prevent cervical cancer in coffeegrowing communities, Grounds for Health (GfH), a dedicated nonprofit, has launched an ambitious summer-long fundraising campaign. The goal? To raise $100K and extend vital healthcare services to women #wheresheis.

GfH has revolutionized cervical cancer screening through easy-to-use and portable HPV test kits. Women can now collect their own samples, which are then sent to labs for analysis. This innovative approach allows for quick detection of the HPV virus, the leading cause of cervical cancer, enabling timely and effective treatment.

Throughout the summer, GfH is showcasing different locations to expand access to these life-saving test kits. This July, the spotlight is on openair markets, where women frequently shop. Earlier this year, GfH's team had a successful trial run in Nyeri, Kenya, where vendors and shoppers readily participated in the screenings due to the convenience and privacy offered by on-site HPV self-sampling. The response was overwhelming, with women queuing up to undergo the test.

Susan Hollinger, GfH Clinical Consultant, expressed her astonishment at the enthusiasm of the women participating, saying, "I have never seen anything like it! Quick, on-site HPV self-sampling was so simple and non-intrusive for women, they were easily recruited to visit the pop-up screening site."

Support for GfH's cause comes from influential players in the coffee industry. Royal New York, BNT Industry & Trading, and Royal Coffee have each generously donated $10K to help propel GfH closer to their fundraising target. Royal New York is going a step further by contributing proceeds from the sale of an exclusive women-produced coffee lot from their Royal New York Line Up.

Jaime Schoenhut, President & CEO of Royal New York, expressed pride in participating in the #wheresheis campaign, highlighting the remarkable work GfH is doing to provide accessible healthcare to women in coffee communities. Royal New York's donation and support emphasize the company's dedication to the cause.

Meanwhile, an exciting and unprecedented collaboration between a local exporter, BNT, and an international importer, Royal Coffee, has emerged to support women's healthcare at origin. As an exporting company, BNT Industry & Trading deeply values the contributions of women to their families, communities, and the global coffee market. Inspired by BNT's commitment, Royal Coffee joined forces to make a difference and demonstrate the power of partnership along the coffee supply chain.

After a successful July campaign, GfH's #wheresheis initiative will continue in August. Their focus will shift towards providing test kits to rural health posts and villages where women reside, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of accessible healthcare.

For those interested in supporting this crucial cause, more information can be found on GfH's website https:// groundsforhealth.org and the option to subscribe to their e-newsletter or follow their social media channels. Together, the coffee community can make a meaningful impact on the lives of women and farmers worldwide.