Kirinyaga: Teachers with young children in five schools across Kirinyaga County will benefit from fully equipped breastfeeding centres, designed to support and empower breastfeeding teachers as they continue their teaching responsibilities. The CEO of the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) Mrs. Benta Opande and the Chairperson of Kenya Seed Wangui Ngirici, whose foundation funded the project, officially handed over the newly constructed centres to Mburi Comprehensive, St. Paul's Kutus, Kathaka, Kiburu, and Upper Baricho Primary Schools.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mrs. Opande emphasized the critical need for such facilities, noting that many teachers were often forced to abscond duties to breastfeed their babies, leading to reduced productivity. 'This initiative will save them time and resources, ultimately enhancing both teacher well-being and student performance,' she said.
KEWOTA, which has been active since its registration in 2007, continues to work with stakeholders and well-wishers to support projects that uplift women teachers. Mrs. Opande expressed gratitude to Ngirici for her generous contribution that made the breastfeeding centres a reality.
Recognizing the growing number of KEWOTA members in Kirinyaga County, Mrs. Opande also announced plans to open a branch office in Kutus Town, aimed at improving service accessibility for teachers in the region. 'Because we have so many members here in Kirinyaga, we are going to open an office in Kutus so that any welfare issues affecting you can be addressed quickly,' she assured.
On her part, Ngirici highlighted the importance of breastfeeding, stressing that both mothers and children deserved comfortable and dignified spaces to breastfeed. 'Breastfeeding is not only the right of the mother, but also the right of the child. If teachers have to go home to breastfeed, either the school or the child ends up losing. These centres ensure that no one is left behind,' she said.
She lauded the schools for embracing the initiative and called on other institutions and stakeholders including government offices and organizations with Affirmative Action Funds to emulate the example and establish similar facilities. 'Let us all come together, people of goodwill, business owners in school communities to support these centres with fridges, baby walkers, playbooks, and other necessities,' she appealed.
The initiative is a progressive step towards promoting teacher retention, gender equality, and child welfare in the education sector.