The Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) has launched a school-based lactation program, benefiting sixteen female teachers at Ndhiwa Comprehensive School in Nyanza. This initiative provides a dedicated lactation room, offering a private and comfortable space for breastfeeding teachers to nurse their infants during breaks, lunchtime, and after school hours.
The program acknowledges the dual responsibilities of teaching and motherhood, aiming to create a balance that allows teachers to fulfill their professional obligations without neglecting their maternal duties. KEWOTA Marketing Manager Daniel Oswago, along with other officials, officially handed over the facility to the school administration, marking a significant step in workplace support for female educators.
Ndhiwa Comprehensive School was chosen as the pilot project due to the high number of female teachers with young children. Currently, three teachers have infants, while two are expectant and will soon require the facility. The initiative recognizes that teachers are expected to resume work just four months after childbirth—a period when exclusive breastfeeding remains crucial.
According to KEWOTA Coordinator in Homa Bay, Mercy Odhiambo, the separation of mothers from their infants often leads to anxiety and mental health challenges. The lactation room provides an opportunity for teachers to continue breastfeeding their babies while reducing work-related stress. “This initiative not only supports breastfeeding but also enables teachers to focus on their duties without undue anxiety,” Odhiambo stated.
To further ease the burden, the program includes a structured caregiving system, allowing family members or house helps to bring infants to school at designated times for breastfeeding before taking them home. This ensures that infants receive adequate nutrition while enabling teachers to maintain their productivity.
Deputy Headteacher Nedy Dulo emphasized the importance of such initiatives, highlighting the positive impact on teachers’ mental well-being and job satisfaction. “With the lactation room, teachers can continue breastfeeding their infants without compromising their professional responsibilities,” she noted.
KEWOTA aims to expand this initiative to more schools nationwide, advocating for policies that support working mothers in the education sector. By prioritizing the well-being of female teachers, the program is expected to enhance teacher retention, job performance, and ultimately contribute to better academic outcomes.
As policymakers and school administrators deliberate on measures to create inclusive workplaces, KEWOTA’s lactation program sets a precedent for institutions to recognize and address the needs of working mothers in a timely and practical manner.
