For years, conversations about maternal and newborn health have largely centred on women – and rightly so. But, in communities across Kenya, one truth is becoming increasingly clear; when men are part of the journey, women thrive, babies survive and families grow stronger. That’s why, our Big Give 2025 campaign is raising money to launch Team Dad.
At Child.org, we’ve learnt that a mother’s well-being is deeply influenced by the support around her, especially from her male partner. Yet, too often, men are left out of maternal and newborn health programs. This week, every donation we receive will be DOUBLED thanks to the Big Give, and we’re using these vital funds to launch Team Dad in a new county in Kenya.
Why Men Matter in Maternal Health
Across rural Kenya, women continue to face barriers in seeking, reaching and receiving care. Decisions about whether to go for antenatal visits or deliver at a health facility are often influenced by men financially, socially and emotionally. As Jacob Chege, our Programme Coordinator, puts it:
“A healthy mother means a healthy community. But too often, the voices of pregnant women go unheard and the support from their partners goes unseen.”
Through Jacob’s years in the field, he’s seen how simple acts of male involvement like accompanying a wife to antenatal care (ANC), helping with chores, or saving money for delivery at a hospital can mean the difference between life and loss.
The ‘Ngota’ Approach: A High Five for Mothers
Team Dad introduces a practical, community-driven model for male engagement, guided by what we call the “Ngota” or “High Five” approach, built around five pillars of support:
- Financial support for pregnancy and delivery.
- Shared domestic responsibilities.
- Accompanying partners to ANC, delivery and postnatal care visits.
- Emotional support throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
- Caring for the newborn together.
These actions may seem small, but together, they create a culture of partnership, empathy and shared responsibility.
Breaking Barriers, Building Dialogue
Engaging men in maternal and newborn health is not a linear journey, it is one that requires patience, empathy and meeting them exactly where they are; at their workplaces, in social gatherings, and even on local radio shows where real conversations happen.
In these settings, men open up. They ask bold questions, challenge norms, and slowly begin to see their role differently. By creating safe, judgment-free spaces, facilitators help shift attitudes that have persisted for generations. They listen without judgment, challenging outdated beliefs while building trust.
As Jacob shares: “Sometimes, a question or a joke from one man can test your patience, but it’s in that moment that listening becomes an act of transformation. We listen, we see, and we don’t judge.”
It is in these honest and human conversations that change begins.
A Growing Movement
Team Dad is more than a project, it’s a movement of understanding and action, one that recognises men as partners in health – not bystanders. By engaging men meaningfully, we are strengthening families, improving maternal and child health outcomes and reshaping gender norms for a more equitable future.
With funding from this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge, we will roll out Team Dad alongside our Pregnant Women’s Groups in Garissa – where the maternal mortality rate is amongst the highest in Kenya. We envision communities where care is shared, respect is mutual – and pregnancy is supported from all sides.
“It’s not an easy path, but it’s essential,” Jacob reflects. “When we engage men, we build homes where mothers feel supported, and children grow in safety. That’s how we change the story, one family at a time.”
The Big Give 2025: Every Donation Doubled
Between the 2nd and the 9th of December, every donation you give is DOUBLED – at no extra cost to you. These vital funds will enable us to launch Team Dad in Garissa County.
Donate now and have double the impact.
Cover image: Taji Creatives. Features Community Health Worker Hossein with partner Katra.