World Breastfeeding Week (1st – 7th August), supported by UNICEF and WHO, is organised annually to sustain and improve breastfeeding rates globally.
Though some countries, such as the USA, UK, Australia and Ireland, have specific laws that support women to breastfeed wherever and however they feel comfortable, many others are yet to implement such laws.
The situation is especially challenging in Kenya, where new mothers are forced to seclude themselves to express milk, thus affecting their ability to move around freely as well as their right to earn a living.
Many are forced to stop breastfeeding or not feed their babies on time to secure their jobs, affecting their basic right to nourish their babies.
To address this issue, nominated Member of Parliament, Sabina Chege has tabled the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill, 2024.
The bill, which mainly aims at establishing a supportive legal framework for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, has passed its first reading and is now open for public input through memoranda submissions.
Once enacted, it will help uphold a mother’s right to breastfeed freely or express milk for her infant.
During World Breastfeeding Week, various Change Leaders of the Nguvu Collective are advocating for the speedy implementation of the law. They are also campaigning to break the stigma and myths surrounding breastfeeding.
“The key provisions of the Breastfeeding Mothers bill, such as requiring employers to provide lactation rooms and imposing penalties including fines or imprisonment for non-compliance, can bring significant changes to the current working environment. It will ensure public breastfeeding rights for every lactating mother and provide reasonable break times to express milk during work. I hope the Parliament will consider passing it into law at the earliest,” says Synthia Asienwa, who champions various causes including quality education.
Mothers with disabilities also face additional hurdles like the absence of support services, limited access to lactation consultants familiar with their needs and inadequate awareness within relevant sectors about their difficulties.
“Many of them also experience problems with latching and milk supply, which are further exacerbated by their disabilities. Societal misconceptions and insufficient adaptive equipment further hinder their breastfeeding experience. Improved healthcare training focused on people with disabilities, accessible resources and tailored support systems for them should be given due focus in the new law,” says Josephine Mwende, a mother with cerebral palsy who is now an advocate for inclusivity in healthcare.
“There are various misconceptions prevalent about breastfeeding. Some women even believe that it is only meant for HIV-positive mothers or that giving alternative foods will make babies healthier. It is important to address and challenge these negative cultural beliefs about breastfeeding while promoting positive views to encourage community support. Involving family and partners in breastfeeding education helps clear up misconceptions and build support,” says Sylvia Awinja from Kisumu County with expertise in promoting girl child education.
The Nguvu Change Leaders add that although the public response to the bill has been overwhelmingly positive so far, its implementation is slow.
They also hope that Parliament will ensure that its provisions are quickly implemented across Kenya.
