By Betty Luke
Breastfeeding mothers working in half of government organizations in Kenya have no access to decent lactation points at their work places, a report shows.
The report by the Public Service Commission shows that over 75 percent of the organizations had not provided a conducive environment for nursing mothers as a means of protecting their human dignity as provided for in Article 10 of the constitution while only 24 percent had complied.
The commission further states that out of those that had complied, only 60 percent had fully equipped their stations with the essential facilities that include hand washing machines, cooling facilities, electrical outlets for breast pumps and comfortable chairs and tables among others.
The Health Act of 2017 directs that all employers establish lactation stations at their work places and adequately provide necessary equipment and facilities.
The Act also requires that all employers take strict measures to prevent any direct or indirect form of promotion, marketing or selling of infant formular within the station.
The commission recommended that the organizations that were yet to establish lactation centers and those with partially equipped centers to be compelled to comply by June 30, 2023.
