Canadian coffee company and Food for the Hungry Canada team up to send medical supplies to Thai farmers

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Doi Chang Village’s sole medical facility will be upgraded from providing basic first-aid to crucial medical care

(VANCOUVER, B.C.) – It’s the definition of “team work.” The Vancouver-based Doi Chaang Coffee Company and the non-profit organization, Food for the Hungry Canada (FH Canada), along with other supporters, will be sending a 20ft container filled with over 230 new and used pieces of medical supplies to Doi Chaang Coffee farmers, the indigenous Akha Hill Tribe, in Northern Thailand’s Doi Chang Village.
Built ten years ago by the Thai Government, the facility was left with enough to issue basic first-aid. This delivery means advanced access to medical care for the Tribe, which is a huge step forward; many of the farmers don’t have Government-issued I.D. – which means if they leave Doi Chang , not only will they not receive professional medical care, but they could be apprehended and returned to their village.
“Unfortunately this is a reality they face – even for those with Thai-issued I.D., the closest facility is roughly two hours away – which is why this delivery will revolutionize the way the Tribe approaches health care,” said Doi Chaang Coffee Company co-founder, John M. Darch. “More recently we began an initiative for elderly health care and we now work with the municipal government to provide resources as well as some funding.” Said Darch.
The health centre will receive dental equipment & supplies, an ultrasound machine, fetal monitor, maternity and delivery beds for neonatal and childbirth care as well general hospitals items such as beds, gurneys, operating table, blankets, gowns, wheelchairs, instrument kits and scrub sets for individuals requiring general or in-patient hospital visits. “We couldn’t have done this without the generous support of FH Canada and our communities – which includes the Doi Chaang Coffee Foundation in Doi Chang Village.” Said Darch.
In addition to the support of FH Canada – Doi Chaang would like to thank Robert Denning, Director of Universal Aide Society, Shirley Gremyachev, and Director of IMED at Food for the Hungry Canada, Lindsay Brucks, as well as the entire organization for its generous donation to the facility.
About Doi Chaang Coffee Company:
The Canadian Doi Chaang Coffee Company started in 2007 as a way to bring economic and environmental sustainability to the indigenous AKHA hill tribe and Doi Chang Village in Northern Thailand. The AKHA farmers own half of the company, meaning they are paid in excess of the price recommended by the Fair Trade Organization for their green beans. We call this going “Beyond Fair Trade.”