Ghana Health Service secures 80,000 pairs of specialised shoes for frontline Health Workers
Story by: Regina Bless
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), under the leadership of its Director-General, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has secured 80,000 pairs of specialised footwear for healthcare workers through a partnership involving World Shoes Limited, Samaritan’s Feet and Sanford Health.
The donation, supported financially by Sanford Health, is intended to support frontline healthcare workers under the government’s Free Primary Healthcare Initiative, particularly nurses, midwives and community health workers serving remote and underserved communities.
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 collaborative journey focused on strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system.
He shared personal experiences, including how a nurse’s persistence helped save his mother, to highlight the critical role healthcare professionals play in saving lives and supporting families.
Dr. Taylor described the donation as a gesture of appreciation for the dedication of Ghanaian health workers, many of whom walk long distances and work demanding shifts to deliver essential healthcare services.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea expressed gratitude to Sanford Health, World Shoes Limited and Samaritan’s Feet for what he described as a significant contribution to the welfare of frontline healthcare personnel.
He recalled his longstanding relationship with Dr. Taylor, which began approximately 15 years ago when he served as Director of the Institutional Care Division, noting that the relationship had helped lay the foundation for the current partnership.
Dr. Kaba Akoriyea also highlighted progress under the Free Primary Healthcare policy, revealing that more than 3.2 million clients had been registered, while over 15,000 community-level implementation activities were actively reaching vulnerable populations.
He explained that the footwear was specially engineered with antimicrobial features to support the protection and comfort of healthcare workers, particularly those operating in difficult conditions.
The Director-General assured the partners that the Ghana Health Service would implement a transparent and equitable distribution framework to ensure the footwear reaches deserving nurses, midwives and community health workers across all regions.
Speaking on behalf of Sanford World Clinic, Vice President Ms. Karolina Slack emphasised that quality healthcare depends not only on medical resources but also on compassion, human connection and support for frontline personnel.
She paid tribute to nurses and midwives for their commitment to serving communities despite long distances, demanding schedules and challenging working environments.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of World Shoes Limited and Samaritan’s Feet highlighted the importance of resilience, international collaboration and access to protective footwear. Drawing from his childhood experiences, he stressed that partnerships between local health authorities and international organisations could contribute significantly to improving public health.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the local manufacturing of durable, environmentally friendly footwear in Africa to promote sustainability, dignity and health equity.
The handing-over ceremony was attended by the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Robert Amesiya, his deputies, the Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr. Efua Commeh, district health directors, medical superintendents and staff from selected health facilities.
The donation is expected to strengthen efforts to improve the safety, comfort and working conditions of frontline healthcare professionals as Ghana expands access to primary healthcare services, particularly among underserved populations.