The Kaduna State Climate Change Accountability Mechanism (KadCCAM) has called for the integration of breastfeeding, maternal health and child nutrition into the state’s climate-resilience policies, warning that climate shocks could deepen food insecurity and expose mothers and children to greater health and economic vulnerabilities.
KadCCAM said protecting and promoting breastfeeding should no longer be treated solely as a public-health intervention but as part of a broader strategy for building resilient households, reducing pressure on vulnerable families and strengthening sustainable development in Kaduna State.
Ibrahima Yakubu, co-chair of KadCCAM, made the call in a statement marking World Breastfeeding Week 2026.
The organisation said that climate change was already putting pressure on food security, livelihoods and public health, with the consequences likely to be most severe for vulnerable households, particularly mothers and young children.
Against this backdrop, KadCCAM argued that stronger institutional support for breastfeeding could contribute to household resilience while reducing dependence on environmentally intensive alternatives.
“Breastfeeding is not only a foundation for healthy childhood development but also an important part of building resilient communities,” Yakubu said.
The intervention comes as policymakers increasingly face the challenge of addressing climate change alongside persistent nutrition and maternal-health pressures, particularly among low-income households whose ability to absorb food-price shocks and environmental disruptions is limited.
KadCCAM therefore urged government institutions, development partners, communities and individuals to create conditions that enable mothers to practise exclusive breastfeeding, including access to accurate information, appropriate resources, workplace and community support, and adequate protection.
Yakubu said the climate crisis should compel policymakers to look beyond environmental indicators and consider its wider implications for nutrition, maternal wellbeing, household income and human capital development.
“Protecting and promoting breastfeeding must remain part of our broader commitment to climate action, sustainable development, and improved health outcomes for all,” he said.
For Kaduna, KadCCAM said a coordinated approach linking climate responsibility with maternal health, child nutrition and community resilience would help build healthier households better equipped to withstand future environmental and economic shocks.
The organisation called for renewed commitment to policies and practical interventions that recognise the interconnectedness of climate change, nutrition and human development.
“Together, we can build a healthier, more sustainable, and climate-resilient Kaduna State,” Yakubu said.
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