The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS), has launched the ‘Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) initiative”, a major community-based health programme that will deploy 2,300 community health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve disease prevention across four regions of the country.
“This new two-year programme, supported by the Italian Government, aims to strengthen primary healthcare, enhance disease prevention efforts, and build resilient community health systems across four regions.”
Dr. Lawrence Ofori Badu
The two-year initiative, which will run from 2026 to 2027, is funded by the Government of Italy through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with technical support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
It is expected to reinforce Ghana’s community health systems by expanding access to preventive healthcare, improving disease surveillance, strengthening emergency preparedness and promoting healthier communities.
Speaking at the official launch, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, described the project as a timely intervention that aligns with the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality primary healthcare through the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
“The REACH project is coming at a transformative period for Ghana’s health sector and directly complements government’s commitment to providing accessible primary healthcare services for all,”
Dr. Akoriyea stated.
He announced that the 2,300 community health workers would be strategically deployed across the Volta, Western and Ashanti regions, as well as selected priority communities, where they will serve as frontline health personnel supporting preventive healthcare and strengthening links between communities and health facilities.
Project to Strengthen Community Health Systems
According to the Director-General, the REACH initiative is designed to reinforce Ghana’s primary healthcare system by expanding community-based health services while ensuring that health interventions reach vulnerable and underserved populations.
He explained that the programme will not only improve access to essential healthcare but will also strengthen disease surveillance, facilitate timely referrals and promote preventive health practices at the community level.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the project, Dr. Akoriyea outlined several institutional measures that the Ghana Health Service will implement throughout the programme.
These include integrating REACH-generated community health data into the national health reporting and referral system, strengthening supervision and quality assurance mechanisms, and intensifying community engagement to address cultural barriers that often limit access to healthcare services.
“We are committed to ensuring that the gains from this initiative become part of Ghana’s broader healthcare delivery system through effective data integration, continuous supervision and sustained community participation,”
Dr. Donkor
Initiative Supports Free Primary Healthcare Agenda
The Director-General said the launch of REACH comes at a crucial period as government continues implementing policies aimed at expanding equitable access to quality healthcare.
Dr. Akoriyea
He explained that strengthening community-level healthcare remains essential to reducing preventable illnesses, improving maternal and child health outcomes and promoting early detection of diseases.
According to him, deploying trained community health workers closer to households will improve health education, encourage early treatment-seeking behaviour and reduce pressure on higher-level health facilities.
He stressed that preventive healthcare remains one of the most cost-effective strategies for improving national health outcomes and reducing avoidable deaths.
Government Commended for Support
Earlier, the Director of the Institutional Care Division of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Lawrence Ofori Boadu, welcomed participants to the launch and described the REACH project as one that strongly aligns with Ghana’s national health priorities.
He said the initiative supports the Ghana Health Service’s mandate to implement effective public health policies while improving the efficient use of healthcare resources.
According to Dr. Ofori Boadu, the project will significantly strengthen community outreach services, address key social determinants of health and create stronger accountability mechanisms between healthcare providers and local communities.
He expressed appreciation to the Italian Government and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation for providing financial support for the initiative.
“We are grateful to the Italian Cooperation for its generous support, which has made it possible for Ghana to implement this important community health programme alongside other beneficiary countries such as the Central African Republic,”
Dr. Akoriyea
Ghana Red Cross to Lead Community Implementation
President of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Dr. Edward Donkor, disclosed that the REACH initiative will be implemented over a two-year period and will rely heavily on the Society’s extensive volunteer network to achieve its objectives.
He explained that one of the flagship components of the programme is the recruitment, training and deployment of 2,300 community health workers who will serve as an important bridge between healthcare facilities and vulnerable communities.
According to him, these frontline personnel will support disease prevention activities, community health education, surveillance, emergency preparedness and timely referrals to health facilities.
“The recruitment and deployment of community health workers will strengthen grassroots healthcare delivery and ensure that no community is left behind,”
Dr. Donkor
He added that leveraging the Ghana Red Cross Society’s nationwide volunteer base would enhance community participation while improving the effectiveness of public health interventions across the targeted regions.
Partnership Expected to Improve Health Outcomes
Health experts have consistently recognised community health workers as a vital component of effective primary healthcare systems, particularly in improving access to services in underserved communities.
Through regular household engagement, health education and early identification of illnesses, community health workers help reduce preventable diseases while encouraging communities to seek timely medical care.
The REACH initiative is therefore expected to complement existing government interventions by bringing healthcare services closer to communities and strengthening the country’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
As implementation begins, officials from the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Red Cross Society expressed confidence that the partnership will enhance Ghana’s primary healthcare system, improve community resilience and contribute significantly to achieving universal health coverage while ensuring that quality healthcare reaches even the most vulnerable populations.
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