Empowering Pregnant Women with Climate-Health Education in Otor-Jeremi

Climate change poses growing risks to maternal and child health, particularly for pregnant women and families living in vulnerable communities. Extreme heat, flooding, unsafe water, and changing patterns of infectious diseases can increase health risks during pregnancy and make accessing essential healthcare more difficult.

Recognising the need to equip women with practical knowledge, TEAF-CHE carried out a climate-health education session for 50 pregnant women at General Hospital, Otor-Jeremi, Delta State, on 23 September 2026.

Raising Awareness of Climate Change and Maternal Health

The session focused on helping pregnant women understand how climate change can affect their health and the health of their unborn babies. Participants learned about the potential effects of extreme heat, flooding, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, and disruptions to healthcare services during extreme weather events.

We emphasised that pregnant women may face additional challenges during periods of extreme heat and flooding, including dehydration, increased exposure to infectious diseases, and difficulties reaching health facilities for antenatal care and emergency services.

The session also highlighted the importance of recognising climate-related health risks early and seeking appropriate medical care when needed.

Practical Ways to Adapt to Climate Change

Beyond raising awareness, the session provided practical guidance on how pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies from climate-related health risks.

Key messages included:

• Protecting themselves from extreme heat: Drinking safe water regularly, resting in cool and well-ventilated places, avoiding strenuous activities during the hottest periods of the day, and seeking medical attention if they experience signs of heat-related illness.
• Preventing malaria: Sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, keeping their surroundings free of stagnant water where possible, and attending antenatal appointments for recommended malaria prevention and treatment.
• Maintaining safe water and hygiene: Drinking treated or otherwise safe water, washing hands regularly, and handling food safely to reduce the risk of diarrhoeal diseases.
• Preparing for flooding and other extreme weather events: Monitoring weather warnings, identifying safe routes to healthcare facilities, keeping important health records and essential supplies accessible, and planning how to reach a health facility during an emergency.
• Maintaining antenatal care: Keeping scheduled appointments, following healthcare workers' advice, and seeking prompt medical attention if they experience danger signs during pregnancy, even when environmental conditions are challenging.

These messages were intended to help participants make informed decisions, adopt protective practices, and prepare for climate-related emergencies that could affect their pregnancies.

Our Impact

By reaching 50 pregnant women at General Hospital, Otor-Jeremi, TEAF-CHE took another step towards making climate-health information accessible to women who may face increased health risks due to changing environmental conditions.

The session reinforced the importance of integrating climate change awareness into maternal healthcare and ensuring that women have practical information to protect their health and the health of their babies.

Our Commitment to Climate-Resilient Maternal Health

At TEAF-CHE, we believe that protecting maternal and child health requires more than access to healthcare alone. Women also need the knowledge and resources to understand emerging health risks and respond to them effectively.

Through community education and engagement with healthcare facilities, we are working to empower pregnant women, nursing mothers, and caregivers with practical climate-health knowledge.

Our goal is to support healthier pregnancies, strengthen community preparedness, and contribute to a more climate-resilient healthcare system in Nigeria, where women and children are better protected from the health impacts of climate change.