Building and Strengthening Health and Wellness Activities for the Sustainable Tree Crops Program in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana
Project Dates: January 2009 – January 2010
Countries: Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
Funders: World Cocoa Foundation and National Confectioners Association
Implementers: Family Health International (FHI - Côte d’Ivoire) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture/Sustainable Tree Crops Program (IITA/STCP Ghana)
Overview
The Building and Strengthening Health and Wellness Activities for the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Phase II built upon the training modules for HIV/AIDS and malaria developed under Phase I. During Phase I (April 2007-September 2008), a total of 34 trainers and 160 peer educators were trained, a total of 5,814 people learned about HIV/AIDS and malaria, and 597 accessed voluntary testing and counseling services.
The project worked with the communities of Zinzenou, Amélékia, Zamaka and Yakassé Feyassé in the Department of Abengourou, Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the communities of Adobewura and Sribuaso in Atwina Mponua District, Ashanti Region, Ghana and those of Sekyere Krobo and Aboaboso in Mphohor Wassa East District, Western Region, Ghana. 
Program Objectives – Côte d’Ivoire:
- Peer educators (trained in Phase I) reach 1,200 Farmer Field School participants and their dependents in small group settings.
- Peer educators reach 100 individuals through one-on-one communications.
- 100 Farmer Field School participants referred to voluntary counseling and testing (for HIV/AIDS) and 100 Farmer Field School participants referred to malaria treatment.
- 100,000 condoms distributed.
Program Objectives - Ghana:
- Train 20 Video Viewing Club facilitators to use HIV/AIDS and malaria training modules.
- Implement HIV/AIDS and malaria training modules within 20 Video Viewing Clubs (reaching approximately 500 cocoa farmers).
- Conduct a pilot health fair financed by the local cocoa-related private sector as a methodology for increasing farmers’ awareness of health issues and providing health screening
Progress to Date
- 3,060 people in Côte d’Ivoire learned about HIV/AIDS, malaria and reproductive health. Farmer Field School participants and community members were educated through a total of 29 Farmer Field School sessions and 68 community sessions focusing on these topics. A total of 73,000 condoms were distributed.
- 152 people in Côte d’Ivoire referred to voluntary counseling and treatment services. As a result of one-on-one communications with peer educators, a total of 152 people were referred to voluntary counseling and testing services (for HIV/AIDS) and malaria treatment services.
- 20 Video Viewing Club facilitators in Ghana trained in HIV/AIDS and malaria modules. The facilitators will incorporate modules on HIV/AIDS and malaria into video viewing clubs to reach approximately 500 people.
- 1,228 cocoa farmers attended a pilot health fair in Ghana. STCP hosted a pilot health fair in Bibiani in the Western Region for cocoa farmers and their families. The one-day event took an interactive approach to creating health awareness through community theater and role-play, on-site medical screening/testing, medical referrals, health demonstrations and distribution of educational materials. Participating institutions included the Ghana Cocoa Board, Armajaro Ghana Ltd, Cadbury Ghana Ltd, Nestlé Ghana Ltd, Yara Ghana Ltd, Wienco Ghana Ltd and the Cocoa Aprabopa Association.
Success Story: Family Implements Malaria Prevention Techniques