One Week: Around the World Retro Diary

During one whirlwind week in April, you could clearly see how Grounds for Health has been having an impact on a global level. From April 22-28, Grounds for Health was doing work on both coasts, sitting at the table at the World Health Organization and championing cervical cancer prevention with six countries on four continents.

Here’s a little retro diary of that crazy week.

Sunday, April 22 – Portland, Oregon

Development Director Jane Sakovitz Dale, Communications Specialist Justin Mool, and Operations Manager Katherine Parcell take some time to have breakfast at Mother’s Bistro to reflect on an amazing week at the SCAA Event. It has been an inspiring few days with our most ardent supporters. (Read Jane’s article HERE.)

Monday, April 23 – Chiapas, Mexico

In-country Coordinator Dra. Lupita Jovel Sanchez conducts additional community health promoter trainings with the Triunfo Verde and CESMACH cooperatives. These locally led trainings will mean that the communities can hold their own campaigns to screen and treat women for cervical cancer.

Tuesday, April 24 – Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

In-country Coordinators Dr. Annah Kichambati and Amanda Eastwood conducted a refresher training for Community Health Promoters from the farmer groups of Kilicafe to support their growing knowledge of cervical cancer prevention.

Wednesday, April 25 – Cajamarca, Peru

Even though Senior Clinical Officer Elisa Vandervort isn’t physically in Peru, she is working the phone lines in preparation for the upcoming launch of our new program in the northern region of the country, checking in with our four new coffee cooperative partners, arranging meetings with the National Cancer Institute, and making plans with our coffee industry supporters on the ground.

Thursday, April 26 – Waterbury, Vermont

Grounds for Health interns Corrie Wilcox and Michelle Paquette jump in to help Senior Clinical Officer Ellen Starr, who is busy getting ready for the second campaign in Kilimanjaro Region in May. She will be heading back on her own to continue to strengthen the program we began in January with partners Kilicafe and EGPAF (the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation).

Friday, April 27 – Geneva, Switzerland

Executive Director August Burns finishes five days of meetings with the World Health Organization to revise International Guidelines on Cervical Cancer Prevention. She had been selected by WHO to join this technical advisory group, and leaves the meetings with a request that Grounds for Health author the guidelines on community outreach and education.

Saturday, April 28 – San Juan del Rio Coco, Nicaragua

Program Manager Kayla Moore and Senior Program Officer Rebecca Singer hold a wrap-up meeting with In-Country Coordinator Barinia Osejo to review a fruitful campaign and plan next steps. For the entire week, the team had been visiting Grounds for Health-trained providers at their health posts in the Madriz area. The local doctors and nurses have shown great progress and, together with the help of co-ops and community health promoters, are providing access to care for hundreds of women who have never been screened.