This week, Rwanda will join the rest of the world to mark World Breastfeeding Week. This year, the focus is on mobilising concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work without hindrances.

Whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting, she should be facilitated to breastfeed as recommended accordingly.

In Rwanda, much has been achieved in ensuring that breastfeeding mothers get the necessary support in the workplace.

Earlier this year, government approved a draft law establishing and governing the organisation of Maternity Leave Benefits scheme, which is an insurance plan under which working women going on a 12-week maternity leave will be paid their full salary in the last six weeks of their leave.

However, despite these efforts, breastfeeding mothers still face challenges, especially in the private sector where they are usually told to report back to work just a few weeks after giving birth or risk losing their jobs.

Others are given limited or no break to breastfeed while at work. 

As we mark the breastfeeding week, all stakeholders should reflect on the importance of allowing working breastfeeding mothers enough time to breast feed.

Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother and society can give a child. And, thus, every breastfeeding mother should be supported by her employer to realise this.

During the first six months of a child’s life, breastfeeding is considered the most ideal meal for a baby. This is because breast milk contains vital nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and minerals that are necessary for proper growth and development.

Besides these nutrients, a breastfeeding baby receives antibodies from the mother in form of natural immunity.