Nairobi, Kenya - The International Migration Organization (IOM) mission in Kenya joins in the celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2023, from 1 to 8 August, under the theme “Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!”. IOM recognizes the critical role working women especially in the humanitarian field, play in ensuring that essential services reach the furthest left behind including migrants and asylum seekers.

In March 2023, IOM Kenya launched a “Parents’ Room”, a private space dedicated to staff for expressing breast milk, nursing a child, administering medicine, and/or other medically necessary activities supporting the wellness and parenting needs.

“For breast feeding mums, the parents’ room is well equipped with way above average facilities i.e., breast pump, comfortable chair to do the operations and fridge accommodative enough by its exclusivity to just breast milk.” – Ms. Winnie Mbugua, Operations Assistant, a mother to two beautiful girls.

Ms. Mbugua used the room while nursing her second baby girl. "I didn't know what to expect when I started pumping regularly at work. I hadn't even seen a mothers’ room before, luckily one of my colleagues informed me of the parents’ room, Ms. Mbugua said excitedly. “The room is private, and I felt right at home. The room is well equipped to support any breastfeeding mum.”

“Moreover, the parents’ room is for any staff who wants to bring their child to work or incase child minder is away or an emergency,” explained Ms. Mbugua.

“The facility is not only for women or mothers but can also be used by men, since they are involved in home duties including baby sitting and can benefit from the parents room.” – Ms. Sharon Dimanche, Chief of Mission, IOM Kenya.

IOM - UN Migration in Kenya supports the call for “increased investments in breastfeeding support policies and programmes in all settings, including a national policy and programme that regulates and promotes public and private sector support to breastfeeding women in the workplace.”