In Lunga Lunga, Kenya, the tea tree farming community is at the heart of doTERRA’s sourcing work. The families connected to doTERRA’s Sourcing Partner help sustain this supply chain, yet many live in rural areas where access to quality healthcare is limited, especially for expectant mothers. The original community assessment identified serious gaps in maternity care, staffing, and diagnostic equipment, making maternal health a critical area for support. doTERRA’s Sourcing Partner employs about 200 workers and supports more than 2,000 out of growers in the surrounding area, which means the impact of better healthcare reaches well beyond the farm itself.
That is what makes this project so meaningful.
Through this initiative, doTERRA and partners have worked to strengthen maternal healthcare by expanding access to point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) services and building local clinical capacity. For mothers in these communities, that can mean the difference between uncertainty and reassurance, or between traveling long distances for care and receiving support close to home. The broader vision of the project is to help create a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system for the families connected to doTERRA Tea Tree sourcing region.
The progress is already significant.
From July 2025 through March 2026, 1,612 obstetric POCUS scans were completed across seven supported health facilities. In March alone, 302 scans were completed, showing growing use of these services as the program continues to expand. Facilities like Kikoneni Health Centre and Vitsangalaweni Dispensary have become key access points, helping mothers receive ultrasound care in their own communities and at no cost.
The human side of that progress is what makes the story especially powerful.
Mlongo, a 21-year-old mother from Vitsangalaweni, is expecting her second child. During her first pregnancy, she could not afford an ultrasound. This time, when she visited her local health facility and received a scan, the uncertainty she had carried was replaced with reassurance and peace. She knew her baby was healthy, and that her pregnancy was being carefully monitored by trained health workers.
Mwanamlima, from Kikoneni, shared a similar experience. In her previous pregnancy, she had to travel to a distant hospital and spend an entire day just to access ultrasound services. Being able to receive that care free of charge at her local health center brought her relief and happiness, and allowed her to focus more fully on her own wellbeing and that of her baby.
One of the most exciting recent developments is the continued growth of local training and support.
A new cohort of 15 nurses and midwives began POCUS training on April 13, 2026, to further strengthen care across supported facilities. At the same time, the program is expanding technical support by onboarding a second sonographer beginning April 20, 2026, helping respond to increasing demand and maintain quality as utilization grows. New and improved devices were also deployed earlier this year, along with improved connectivity tools to support reporting and oversight.
This project is a reminder that supporting sourcing communities means supporting the people behind the harvest.
By investing in maternal health in Lunga Lunga, doTERRA is helping tea tree farming families access care that is closer, more consistent, and more responsive to their needs. It is a practical way to strengthen community wellbeing while contributing to a healthier and more resilient future for the people connected to this sourcing region.
