Community Care in Action: Supporting Health and Well-Being in Ghana
At Traditional Medicinals, we believe that the health of people and the health of communities are deeply interconnected. While our work begins with plants, it is sustained through relationships with the farmers, workers, and communities who help bring those plants to life.
One of those relationships is with Bothapraku, an organic citrus peel producer in Ghana’s Central Region. Founded by Juliet Blickensdorf, Bothapraku is committed to sustainable agriculture, organic farming practices, and creating meaningful livelihood opportunities for rural women. Bothapraku is also Fair for Life certified, a rigorous third-party certification that supports fair trade, responsible supply chains, and long-term social impact for farming communities and workers.
Through this partnership, Bothapraku supplies organic orange peel and lemon peel used in several Traditional Medicinals teas. Their orange peel can be found in products like Smooth Move® and Throat Coat®, while their lemon peel is used in teas like Nighty Night® and Lemon Ginger. These ingredients do more than add bright citrus flavor and functional benefits. They represent a supply chain rooted in care, transparency, and accountability.
This is what responsible sourcing looks like in practice. Not just knowing where your ingredients come from, but being accountable to the people who grow, harvest, and process them.
Over the years, our relationship with Bothapraku has grown beyond sourcing, grounded in a shared belief that long-term success depends on supporting the well-being of the people central to the supply chain.
As part of our ongoing partnership with Bothapraku, discussions with Juliet highlighted healthcare access as a significant challenge for farmers, workers, and their families. To address this, Traditional Medicinals, Bothapraku, and local partners worked together to develop a health initiative tailored to community needs. Through the Traditional Medicinals Foundation, we partnered with La Conexión, an organization dedicated to expanding access to quality healthcare in underserved communities. We also partnered with local healthcare professionals and community leaders to support a three-day health clinic focused on expanding access to care and strengthening local healthcare resources.
A Collaborative Approach to Community Health
Held in March 2026 near Bothapraku’s processing facility in Batanyaa, the clinic brought together healthcare professionals from the United States and Ghana in a truly collaborative effort. Local doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, and healthcare workers worked alongside the La Conexión medical team to provide care, share expertise, and learn from one another.
Over the course of three days, more than 240 patients received screenings, consultations, treatment, and follow-up recommendations, including 50 children. Patients were able to meet with medical professionals, review laboratory results, discuss ongoing health concerns, receive medications when needed, and leave with a clearer understanding of their health and next steps for care.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the clinic was the opportunity to expand access to preventive healthcare services. More than 70 women received pelvic exams and Pap smear screenings, many for the first time in their lives. These services can play an important role in identifying health concerns early and connecting patients with the care they need.
The clinic also helped identify common health challenges affecting the community, including hypertension, stress-related concerns, musculoskeletal pain, work-related injuries, dental issues, and vision impairments. Understanding these trends allows local healthcare providers and partners to develop more targeted education, prevention, and follow-up programs in the future.
Building Capacity Beyond the Clinic
While the clinic provided immediate care, the broader goal was to support long-term community health.
Medical equipment and supplies were donated to local clinics and healthcare providers to strengthen their ability to serve patients year-round. Training was provided on new medical tools and technologies, helping local healthcare professionals build additional skills and resources that will continue benefiting the community long after the clinic ended.
The visit also provided an opportunity to learn directly from nurses, midwives, and healthcare workers about the challenges they face, including limited funding, access to equipment, and gaps in health education. These conversations help inform future efforts and identify ways to support ongoing care in partnership with local providers.
Learning from the Community
One of the most valuable parts of the trip was the opportunity to spend time with the people and places that make up the Bothapraku community.
Our team visited Bothapraku’s farms and processing facility, where we learned more about the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of organic citrus peel. We met with workers, farmers, and community members whose knowledge, dedication, and care are essential to producing high-quality botanicals.
We also visited local health clinics, met with community leaders, and spent time with the chief and tribal council to pay our respects and reaffirm our commitment to being a thoughtful and responsible partner. These conversations provided important insight into local priorities, cultural traditions, and opportunities for future collaboration.
For us, this work is about more than sourcing ingredients. It is about investing in relationships, supporting resilient communities, and recognizing that the future of herbal wellness depends on the well-being of the people who help make it possible.
Throughout the visit, one theme emerged again and again: meaningful impact is built through listening. The most effective solutions are not imposed from the outside. They are developed together, informed by the people who know their communities best.
Looking Ahead
This clinic was not a standalone initiative, but part of an ongoing commitment to supporting the communities connected to our supply chain.
The relationships built during this visit, the lessons learned from healthcare providers and community members, and the needs identified throughout the clinic will help shape future efforts. Plans are already underway to explore additional support for health education, follow-up care, and future clinic opportunities in partnership with local organizations and healthcare professionals.
We are grateful to Bothapraku, La Conexión, Life Sciences Medical Center, the local doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory staff, community leaders, and every individual who contributed their time, expertise, and care to make this effort possible.
At Traditional Medicinals, we believe that responsible sourcing extends beyond the herbs themselves. It includes investing in relationships, supporting community well-being, and working together to create a healthier future for people, plants and the planet.
