Olam Agri Ghana launches third edition of healthy baker initiative, expands health services for bakers

GHANA – Olam Agri Ghana, a leading agri-business specializing in food, feed, and fibre, has kicked off the third edition of its flagship Healthy Baker initiative.

This innovative programme, designed to enhance the health and well-being of bakers nationwide, aims to improve food safety standards within the communities they serve. The campaign began in the Western Region towns of Takoradi and Aboadze, with plans to reach over 7,500 bakers across Ghana.

The Healthy Baker initiative, spearheaded by Olam Agri’s Grains Business, is a cornerstone of the company’s efforts to support bakers in Africa. The programme focuses on educating participants on hygiene standards and compliance protocols while monitoring their health to ensure they are fit to handle food.

This year, the initiative has introduced a significant enhancement: the inclusion of breast cancer screenings as part of its health assessments.

Soumya Saxena, Business Head of Olam Agri’s Grains Business in Ghana, emphasized the importance of the expanded initiative.

“We are proud to expand our Healthy Baker initiative this year. By integrating breast cancer screenings into our health assessments, we are taking a proactive step towards ensuring the well-being of our bakers beyond just food safety,” he said.  He encouraged all bakers to participate actively and take advantage of these invaluable health services.

The addition of breast cancer screenings reflects Olam Agri’s commitment to public health and wellness, extending its focus beyond the traditional annual breast cancer awareness month in October. The screenings will be conducted in collaboration with Twentyth Consult and Regional Coordination Councils, ensuring comprehensive health evaluations for participants.

In addition to health screenings, the initiative educates bakers on good hygiene practices to maintain optimal food safety standards in their bakeries. Bakers who pass the health screening checks receive food handling certificates from local authorities, certifying their suitability to handle food.

Since its launch in 2022, the Healthy Baker initiative has made significant strides, conducting over 15 health screening drives and benefiting more than 5,000 bakers in regions such as Tema, Ashaiman, Accra, and Kumasi. This year’s campaign builds on that success, with a renewed focus on addressing critical health issues like Hepatitis B, high blood pressure, and now breast cancer.

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