As a mark of commitment to promoting infant breastfeeding, Mr. Eric Njong SUN Nutrition Ambassador and Founder/Managing Director of “SOCIETE BUNS” will be embarking on a project to construct a lactation room for nursing mothers working in his institution.
This great initiative by the Nutrition Ambassador is part of his solution to curb the challenges of breastfeeding for working mothers.
Studies currently show that breastfeeding rates drop significantly when nursing mothers return to work, due to the unavailability of breastfeeding facilities and short maternity leaves. Mr. Njong’s initiative will also be a timely response to help increase breastfeeding rates in working mothers, and falls in line with the WHO recommended period of six months of exclusive breastfeeding.
Apart from constructing a lactation room, there are several other ways through which companies can promote breastfeeding for working nursing mothers. These include:
- Giving flexible work schedules to provide time for milk expression.
- Providing breastfeeding support services to help mothers with difficulties to continue breastfeeding.
- Raising awareness of the importance of breastfeeding to personnel.
- Extending the period of maternity leave.
- Including colleagues during trainings on the benefits of breast milk, and encouraging them to support breastfeeding mothers.
Mr. Njong cites that the support of breastfeeding in other countries has been important in reducing absences due to childhood illness (breastfed babies are generally healthier), improve staff morale and loyalty, and subsequently increase return-to-work rates.
The SUN Movement and J&A Oben Foundation, congratulate this laudable initiative of the MD of “SOCIETE BUNS” and encourage other heads of Private, Public, and Para public institutions to copy his example.