Staff members of Crystal Ventures Ltd (CVL) and guests gathered on Friday, March 8, at ISCO, the company's subsidiary security firm to mark International Women’s Day, heralding the launch of three lactation rooms (mother’s rooms).
This significant stride underscores the company's commitment to fostering workplace inclusivity.
These dedicated spaces are strategically positioned across various CVL subsidiaries, including the ISCO headquarters, CVL group level, and the Masaka plant (Inyange industry).
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, serves as a global platform to acknowledge advancements in women's empowerment and celebrate their remarkable achievements worldwide. CVL leveraged this occasion to underscore its dedication to gender equality and employee well-being.
CVL is proactively tackling this issue, championing breastfeeding as the natural and healthiest method for infant nourishment.
Of particular note, ISCO, with over 7000 employees, has women comprising 25 percent of its workforce.
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Equipped with beds, comfortable seating, toys, first aid kits, hand dryers, cupboards, air conditioning units, fridges, and other amenities, these rooms provide an optimal environment for maternal activities.
According to Brenda Muteteri, Managing Director of CVL Foundation, the group's CSR arm established two years ago, with a focus on community outreach, the initiative aims to foster workplace inclusivity and support breastfeeding mothers.
Muteteri emphasized, "Today holds immense significance. It's more than just a day; it symbolizes inspiration and inclusion, ensuring that individuals, irrespective of gender, feel valued, respected, and included in society."
She further explained, "This initiative aligns with governmental efforts. Recognizing its benefits for our employees, especially new mothers transitioning back from maternity leave, we initiated these rooms to provide the necessary support for them to balance work and family responsibilities."
Dianah Kayitere, a CVL employee, expressed her delight at the provision of the mother's room, enabling her to fulfill her commitment to exclusive breastfeeding while effectively managing her work responsibilities.
Djalia Nyirabashumba, a security officer at ISCO, praised the administration's initiative, recounting her past discomfort with breastfeeding in public. She lauded the mother's room for providing a comfortable and conducive environment for breastfeeding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only 44 percent of children under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the 2030 target of 70 percent. While Rwanda boasts nearly double the global average for exclusive breastfeeding, recent years have seen a decline, as indicated by Africa Quantitative Sciences.