As many of you know, I cut back to half-time at Café Imports and returned to the University of Minnesota in the fall to pursue my Master’s in Public Health. Later this week I have the seemingly serendipitous opportunity to join my studies very specifically with my work at Café Imports. It just so happens that Grounds for Health, promoters of the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer, will be working at the CESMACH coop in Chiapas, Mexico the same week as my spring break. I was thrilled to be invited to join the team and could hardly believe it happened to be at a coop we buy from!

Quick fact: Did you know that cervical cancer causes the most deaths among all cancers and is the second leading cancer among women worldwide? Without increased and effective screening and treatment, as many as 70,000 women in Latin America and the Caribbean are projected to die of causes related to cervical cancer by 2030. ^1,2

GFH staff and volunteers (including myself) will work training local health providers in up-to-date cervical cancer screening and treatment procedures in addition to training CESMACH women as peer health educators. ‘What is a peer health educator?’ you may find yourself asking. Peer health educators are women interested in advocating for themselves and other women in their community with regards to preventing, screening for, and treating cervical cancer by first informing themselves and then reaching out to their female peers to share what they know. Women attending the peer health educator trainings are volunteers from the CESMACH community. Through empowering local providers and CESMACH women, GFH is not only creating solidarity among community members but is also building a sustainable, life giving program. 

Stay tuned for an update and photos upon my return. For more information about Grounds for Health please visit: www.groundsforhealth.org.