Health experts have called on faith and cultural leaders to champion breastfeeding campaigns, saying their influence is crucial to improving maternal and child health and reducing preventable deaths in Kaduna State.
The call was made during a breastfeeding awareness programme organised by the Al-Manar Women Association (AMSA) in partnership with Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC) and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) to mark the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week.
The community engagement, held at Kudansa Palace in Maraban Rido Ward, Chikun Local Government Area, brought together community leaders, health professionals and residents to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve awareness of maternal and child health.
Speaking at the event, the Project Manager of Faith and Cultural Champions (FCC), Mrs Rabiat Sodangi, said faith and traditional leaders remain trusted voices whose influence can significantly improve public acceptance of health interventions.
She explained that the breastfeeding project is currently being implemented across six local government areas in Kaduna State to improve maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.
According to her, proper breastfeeding helps raise healthier, better-nourished and more intellectually developed children while reducing maternal and infant mortality.
Sodangi urged mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months before introducing complementary foods, while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years.
A Consultant Paediatrician at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Dr Fatima Abdullahi, also stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life.
She said breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mothers and babies while supporting healthy physical and cognitive development.
According to Abdullahi, exclusive breastfeeding protects infants against diarrhoea, pneumonia, allergies and other childhood diseases, while also lowering mothers’ risks of postpartum bleeding, breast cancer and endometrial cancer.
She called on governments and employers to create more breastfeeding-friendly environments by providing paid maternity leave, workplace crèches and dedicated breastfeeding breaks.
The paediatrician also encouraged husbands and other family members to provide emotional, nutritional and practical support to breastfeeding mothers.
She further advised pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics, deliver in health facilities and begin breastfeeding within the first hour after childbirth to improve newborn survival.
Also speaking, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) Consultant, Joro Adam, urged fathers to take a more active role in breastfeeding education and support.
He said fathers play a critical role in encouraging mothers to successfully breastfeed and create supportive home environments.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants received practical demonstrations on breastfeeding, health education sessions and interactive discussions on the importance of early breastfeeding initiation for infant survival, healthy growth and brain development.
