By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Health For All Coalition Sierra Leone (HAFC-SL) successfully concluded a pivotal strategic advocacy meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown. The event aimed to prioritize child health issues for survival and development, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss and strategize on improving child health outcomes in the country.

In his remarks, Charles Mambu, Executive Director of the Health For All Coalition Sierra Leone, called on development partners and the Government of Sierra Leone to increase funding for child health programs, describing such investment as “an investment in the future” rather than an expenditure.

Charles Mambu stressed the need for sustainable nationwide advocacy to ensure that every child in Sierra Leone can reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development. While acknowledging progress made by the Government and its partners in addressing key health indicators, he noted that many children still die from preventable diseases, live below the poverty line, go to bed hungry and face abuse or neglect.

“There are still children on the streets, orphans whose mothers cannot provide for their education and development needs, and children who continue to suffer gender-based violence,”   Charles Mambu said, urging partners to prioritize child health funding in all future engagements. He concluded by emphasizing that protecting and investing in children is not only a moral obligation but a strategic move for the country’s long-term growth.

Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Director of Budget (Payroll), Aiah David Sandi, said the Government has a responsibility to make funds available for all child-related activities, adding that the new approach will ensure budget allocations directly reflect children’s needs. He explained that a Child-Responsive Budgeting Handbook has already been developed, emphasizing the importance of understanding the child protection system to guide funding decisions.

Aiah David Sandi urged advocacy groups to engage early in the budget process to influence allocations before Parliament approves the national appropriation. “Too often, organizations come to us after the budget has ended, making it extremely difficult to make provisions,” he said. “The work starts now.” He encouraged civil society and development partners to work closely with Ministries such as Health, Social Welfare and Education to ensure the right policies are included in departmental budgets. “If the right policies are not captured, there will be no appropriation for them,” Aiah David Sandi cautioned.

Lyntton Michael Tucker, Country Coordinator of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in Sierra Leone, acknowledged the ongoing challenges in global health funding but highlighted the importance of sustaining and enhancing the progress made in child health.

"Child health is paramount. We are witnessing improvements in the lives of our children and it is imperative that we continue to build upon these gains," Lyntton Michael Tucker stated. He underscored the role of strong advocacy and support for civil society organizations in disseminating key health messages from the Ministry of Health to the public.

In closing, Lyntton Michael Tucker reaffirmed the Global Fund's commitment to supporting Sierra Leone's health initiatives, stating, "Our doors remain open to partners and civil society organizations. Together, we can continue to make strides in improving child health and achieving universal health coverage."

Philipa Cride Dole, President of the Children’s Forum Network (CFN), emphasized that child health is not optional but foundational to a child's ability to learn and contribute meaningfully to society. She pointed out that many preventable diseases continue to claim the lives of children under five, often due to lack of access to basic health services.

"It is unjust that some children are denied basic health services simply because they live in poverty or remote areas," Philipa Cride Dole stated. "These are not just statistics; these are our brothers, our sisters, our classmates, our friends and our family members."

Concluding her speech, Dole reminded the audience that "the health of children is the wealth of our nation," urging a shift from promises to actionable policies, programs, and partnerships that prioritize child health. "Let this day mark a turning point where we prioritize the health and well-being of children not just in words, but in action," she concluded.

Patsy O’Hagan, representing Concern Worldwide, provided an overview of the Saving Lives in Sierra Leone (SLiSL) III Consortium, a five-year, £15 million GBP health-systems strengthening programme led by Concern Worldwide and funded by the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

O’Hagan also underscored the importance of safeguarding children from harm and ensuring that health services are inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status or location. She emphasized that every investment in child health is an investment in the nation's future, contributing to reduced disease burden, increased school attendance, and a more resilient society.

In conclusion, O’Hagan called for collective action from all stakeholders government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and citizens to prioritize and invest in child health, ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future for Sierra Leone.

In her presentation, Dr. Lynda Farma Grant, Manager of the Child Health Program at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to reducing child mortality rates, citing the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health, who declared child survival a national emergency during the World Health Assembly in May 2022. This declaration led to the establishment of the National Child Health Programme, aiming to coordinate efforts across various sectors to improve child health outcomes.

Dr. Grant highlighted several challenges from stakeholder meeting in November, 2022 hindering progress, such as inadequate leadership and governance, poor data management, stockouts of essential commodities, and limited community outreach. She called for a unified approach involving government, development partners, and the private sector to overcome these bottlenecks.

The meeting underscored the importance of collective action and accountability in achieving the CSAP's objectives. Dr. Grant urged all stakeholders to prioritize child health, integrate it into district and hospital budgets, and advocate for increased funding and resources to support the implementation of the plan.

In conclusion, Dr. Grant reaffirmed the Ministry's dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of every child in Sierra Leone, emphasizing that investing in child health is investing in the nation's future. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/hafc-sl-concludes-strategic-advocacy-meeting-on-prioritizing-child-health/