The Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has revealed that the government is working to establish 100 lactation stations across the country to support women in workplaces.
Speaking on Thursday, Muthoni said the strategic move will rectify the declining rates for exclusive breastfeeding.
“Recent data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 2022) underscores the importance of this practice, revealing a slight decline in rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to reinforce support for breastfeeding mothers nationwide.”
Further, she stated that the Ministry of Health had listed 126 Nutritionists, Pediatricians, Nurses, and clinical officers across 28 counties as Trainers of Trainers(TOTs) on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative to equip mothers with the necessary breastfeeding skills.
“This strategy aims to provide healthcare environments that help mothers acquire necessary skills to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life and continue breastfeeding for two years or beyond,” Muthoni stated.
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Similarly, through the Baby Friendly Community Initiative, the ministry established a capacity of 2,306 healthcare workers and 11,400 community health promoters to enhance maternal, infant, and young child nutrition practices at the community level.
The World Health Organization(WHO) and UNICEF, recommend optimal breastfeeding practices including early initiation within the first hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding alongside supportive feeding for two years and beyond.
