80,000 pairs of specialised shoes for Ghana’s frontline health workers as GHS advances free primary healthcare

A landmark partnership brings comfort, protection and renewed support to nurses, midwives and community health workers serving communities across Ghana.

In a significant boost to frontline healthcare delivery in Ghana, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has secured a donation of 80,000 pairs of specialised medical footwear from World Shoes Limited and Samaritan’s Feet, with funding support from Sanford Health, to support health workers under the Free Primary Healthcare Initiative.

The donation represents a major investment in the wellbeing of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, midwives and community health workers who often walk long distances and work under demanding conditions to bring essential health services closer to people in remote and underserved communities.

Beyond the numbers, the gesture carries a powerful message: those who dedicate their lives to caring for others also deserve care, protection and support.

A Partnership Built on 15 Years of Collaboration

Presenting the footwear on behalf of the partner organisations, Dr. Kojo Taylor, President of Sanford Health Ghana and World Shoes Limited, reflected on a 15-year journey of collaboration focused on strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system.

Drawing on personal experiences, including how a nurse’s persistence helped save his mother, Dr. Taylor highlighted the profound impact healthcare professionals have on individuals, families and communities.

He noted that the true strength of any healthcare system lies not only in its facilities, equipment or policies, but also in the commitment of the people who show up every day to care for others.

He described the donation as a meaningful expression of appreciation for Ghana’s frontline health workers, whose dedication frequently requires them to travel considerable distances and endure challenging working conditions in the course of their duties.

The specialised footwear is intended to provide comfort and protection while recognising the invaluable contribution these professionals make to healthcare delivery across the country.

GHS Director-General Expresses Gratitude

Receiving the items on behalf of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea expressed profound gratitude to Sanford Health, World Shoes Limited and Samaritan’s Feet for what he described as a significant contribution to the nation’s healthcare workforce.

He traced his longstanding relationship with Mr. Taylor back approximately 15 years, when he served as Director of the Institutional Care Division, noting that the relationship had evolved into a partnership with the potential to make a meaningful difference in healthcare delivery.

Dr. Kaba Akoriyea emphasised that health workers remain the backbone of Ghana’s health system and that their welfare is essential to the successful implementation of primary healthcare policies.

He also highlighted progress under the Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, reporting that more than 3.2 million clients have been registered, while over 15,000 community-level implementation points are actively reaching vulnerable populations.

According to him, these milestones demonstrate the importance of taking healthcare services closer to the people, particularly those who face barriers to accessing essential care.

Dr. Kaba Akoriyea explained that the donated footwear is not ordinary footwear but specially engineered antimicrobial shoes designed to support the protection and comfort of healthcare workers.

He assured the partners that the Ghana Health Service would implement a transparent and equitable distribution framework to ensure the footwear reaches nurses, midwives and community health workers who need it most across all regions.

The commitment to fair distribution is particularly important as Ghana continues to strengthen community-based healthcare delivery, where frontline professionals serve as the first point of contact for many families.

For health workers who spend long hours on their feet and travel between communities, appropriate footwear can contribute to comfort and occupational wellbeing, helping them carry out their responsibilities under demanding conditions.

A Tribute to Compassion and Human Connection

Speaking on behalf of Stanford World Clinic, Vice President Ms. Karolina Slack underscored the importance of compassion, human connection and practical support in building a responsive healthcare system.

She paid tribute to nurses and midwives who endure demanding shifts and walk long distances to deliver care, describing the specialised footwear as a tangible expression of appreciation for their service and commitment.

Her remarks reinforced the principle that strengthening healthcare requires more than policies and infrastructure.

It also requires recognising the everyday sacrifices of the people who make healthcare accessible to communities.

In a related address, the Chairman of World Shoes Limited and Samaritan’s Feet highlighted resilience, international collaboration and the fundamental importance of access to protective footwear.

Drawing on his childhood experiences, he reflected on how partnerships between local health authorities and international organisations can help transform public health outcomes.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the local manufacturing of durable, environmentally friendly footwear in Africa, with the aim of promoting sustainability, dignity and greater health equity.

Such an approach could help strengthen local production capacity while supporting long-term access to appropriate footwear for people whose work places them on their feet every day.

The handover ceremony brought together key health sector representatives, including the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Robert Amesiya, and his deputies; the Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr. Efua Commeh; district directors of health services from Ayawaso East, Krowor, Ningo-Prampram and Ada East; medical superintendents from Madina Polyclinic, Rawlings Circle and Kekele; and staff from selected health facilities under the La-Nkwantanang Municipal Health Directorate.

Their presence reflected the broad network of health professionals and institutions involved in translating national healthcare priorities into services that reach communities.

As Ghana advances its Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, the donation of 80,000 pairs of specialised shoes stands as a reminder that successful healthcare delivery depends not only on reaching patients, but also on supporting the professionals who make that care possible.

For the nurse walking to a remote community, the midwife responding to a call for assistance, and the community health worker bringing essential services to a vulnerable household, these shoes represent more than footwear.

They represent recognition, dignity and a shared commitment to protecting those who care for the nation.

By combining public health leadership with international partnership and a focus on frontline welfare, the initiative offers a compelling example of how practical support can complement Ghana’s broader efforts to make healthcare more accessible to all.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith