25/2/2022
Staff lactation room available for working mothers at KNH By Sheila Murithi
B
reastfeeding is the best source for an infant’s nutrition and contributes to maternal health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life and to continue breastfeeding with complementary foods at least until the age of 2. (Source: UNICEF, W., Global Breastfeeding Score Card, 2019. 2020, WHO & UNICEF: Geneva/ New York). The numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and child cannot be ignored and this has driven the government to put in place laws to support and enforce a healthy environment for lactating mothers to express their milk. Think about it, breastfeeding ensures we have a healthy nation; the decrease of infant death and increase of children with strong immunity and a healthy mental state due to sufficient bonding with the mother results in well-functioning adults in the society. As well as mothers with a reduced risk of death resulting from reproductive and breast cancers will bring down the cost of healthcare. The enactment of the Health Act of 2017 and Breastfeeding Mothers Bill of 2019 is a means of cutting the healthcare problems we face as a country at the bud. Newsline met Ms. Agnes Sitati, Head of Nutrition Department and also the Chief Nutrition Officer in KNH to spotlight the already
functioning Staff Lactation Room in KNH with the hopes of creating more awareness to staff about its existence and encouraging its use. Q: Tell us about the lactation room, when did it become functional? A: The lactation room was operationalized in January 2019 and this was as a result of an initiative by the KNH management to comply with the Health Act of 2017 that requires all employers to establish lactation stations at the workplace to support female employees who are breastfeeding so that they can breastfeed successfully. Following the enactment of the Health Act in 2017, the Head of Pediatrics Department then, Dr. Irene Inwani started the process of establishing the staff lactation station in KNH. Since breastfeeding entails an infant’s nutrition, the Nutrition Department was tasked to lead the process of setting up this facility. Thereafter a multidisciplinary committee was formed comprising Affiliation and Institutional Development Department, Infection Prevention
Control (IPC) Unit, Nursing team, and the Pediatrics Departments that looked at the requirements of putting up the staff lactation room as stipulated in the Act.
PHOTO | SHEILA MURIITHI An inside view of the lactation room, located at KNH, Nutrition department
Q: Tell us about the equipment available for the mothers to use A: The equipment available in the staff lactation room includes: comfortable chairs, recliners to be precise, which help mothers relax. The process of milk let down is enhanced when mothers express their milk in a comfortable environment. We also have coffee tables where the mother can place her breastfeeding pumps, storage cups, bags, and other utensils. Lockable cabinets are also available for the mothers to put their bags, pumps, and expressed milk. We also have a refrigerator in the room. If a mother comes early in the day and wants to store their milk there until evening when this fridge will ensure that the milk will not spoil. The lactation room is also equipped with a sink with clean flowing water so that the mothers can clean their hands and utensils. The lighting is adequate and power outlets are also available for mothers who use the electrical pump or if they need to use any
PHOTO | COURTESY Ms. Agnes Sitati, Head of Nutrition Department
ISSUE 3| Kenyatta National Hospital Newsline
5
