In Sierra Leone, conversations about child survival have often centered on mothers and health workers. This December, a small but determined group of men set out to change that narrative, step by painful step. Under the banner of the Fathers for Life Club, they walked 425 kilometers across eight districts, carrying a simple but powerful message: fathers matter in the survival, health, and future of their children.
Founded in 2024, the Fathers for Life Club emerged from a hard truth. Sierra Leone continues to struggle with high infant and maternal mortality rates, many of them linked to delays in seeking care, missed immunizations, and limited family support during pregnancy and childbirth. The founders recognized that one critical voice was missing from the solution. Fathers.
This year’s National Walk for Child Survival, held from 15 to 22 December, took the team on foot from Kailahun to Lumley Beach in Freetown. Over eight days, they passed through Kailahun, Kenema, Bo, Moyamba, Tonkolili, Port Loko, Western Area Rural, and Western Area Urban. Along the way, they stopped in communities to speak directly with men, challenging long-held beliefs about fatherhood and health.
“At home, many people think a father’s role ends with providing money,” said Dalton John, Team Lead of the Fathers for Life Club, during an interview at the end of the walk. “That mindset needs to change. Women should not be the only ones taking children to the hospital. Fathers must also step in, especially in times of crisis.”
Dalton explained that the club’s work focuses on practical involvement. Supporting women during pregnancy, understanding immunization schedules, and physically taking children to health facilities are all part of responsible fatherhood. Health workers themselves, he noted, often encourage this. “We have been told by health workers that when fathers bring children to the hospital, they are often given priority. That alone shows how much fathers are needed in the system.”
The idea for Fathers for Life was born from painful observation. When maternal deaths occur, Dalton said, fathers are rarely questioned or engaged. “Over time, we realized that when these tragedies happen, fathers are often silent, and very little is said about their role. We felt that had to change.”
Changing it was not easy. The walk tested the team physically and emotionally. “Our bodies were full of wounds,” Dalton recalled. “But we endured the pain because a child dying from an avoidable illness suffers far more than we ever could on that road. That belief carried us through.”
Each member made personal sacrifices. Dalton himself took eight days off from his job as Program Manager for Health Alert. Team member Smart Kwame briefly left the walk to attend his graduation, having had almost no time to prepare, then rejoined the team. Others, including David Joseph Alieu, Abdul Karim Sankoh as Documentary Officer, and Kemo Cham handling communications, pressed on through exhaustion to ensure the message reached as many fathers as possible.
During community engagements, the team listened as much as they spoke. Many fathers told them they were too busy working or struggling to provide. Dalton understood those pressures, but offered a clear challenge. “We advised them that at least three times a month, they should either accompany their wives to the hospital or take their children themselves. Sacrificing three days out of thirty will not make a man poor.”
The walk ended at Lumley Beach, where Lynda Farma Grant of the Ministry of Health’s Child Health Program welcomed the team. She praised their determination and described the initiative as timely and necessary. She urged them not to give up and expressed the ministry’s interest in future partnerships, including immunization campaigns. “It is not much about funding,” she told them. “It is about dedication.”
The journey also deepened the team’s respect for frontline health workers. Walking through remote areas under the sun gave them a glimpse into the daily reality of nurses and community health officers. “Imagine working in a remote village, walking miles just to save lives,” Dalton said. “That strengthened our resolve even more.”
Although Sierra Leone has sixteen districts, the Fathers for Life Club chose to start with eight this year. The work, they insist, is far from over. On Boxing Day, they plan to return to the streets to continue sensitization. “This is our country,” Dalton said firmly. “We will not wait for budget lines before we act. It is our responsibility.”
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The National Walk for Child Survival was more than a physical journey. It was a statement that fatherhood is not passive. Fathers are protectors, nurturers, and decision-makers whose involvement can mean the difference between life and death for a child.
As the Fathers for Life Club calls on men across Sierra Leone, the message is clear and urgent. Stand up. Walk alongside your families. Take your children to the hospital. Support your partners. Child survival is not only a mother’s duty or a health worker’s burden. It is a father’s responsibility too.
