Hershey opens community centre in Africa

The Hershey Company has partnered with cocoa suppliers Blommer Chocolate and Olam Cocoa to fund and build a community health centre in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa.

Access to basic health care is critical for the well being of rural West African cocoa communities, the recently opened health centre is part of the ‘Hershey Learn to Grow’ training and cocoa sustainability program that seeks to improve the lives of cocoa farmers and communities in West Africa.

The centre now provides basic health services, such as maternity facilities; lab testing for AIDS and Malaria; and vaccinations for polio, tetanus and measles to 1,700 households and 13,000 people across three area communities. Without the centre, families in this cocoa farming community would have to either forego treatment or travel long distances for care.

Terry O’Day, senior vice president, chief supply chain officer, says, “Our programmes go beyond helping farmers learn how to grow quality, sustainable cocoa. We work with our partners to improve the wellbeing of all families through education and development projects that benefit everyone in the community.”

“In addition to the support of the individual farm, providing the opportunities necessary to help build thriving communities is critical to the long-term success of the farming sector. We share Hershey’s vision of benefiting thousands of lives,” explains Kip Walk, corporate director, sustainability at Blommer.