SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING IN THE INFORMAL AND FORMAL SECTORS: ROLE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN UGANDA

Background Supporting Breastfeeding in the informal and formal Sectors implies providing designated private space for breastfeeding or expressing milk; allowing flexible scheduling to support milk expression during work; giving mothers options for returning to work, such as teleworking, part-time work, and extended maternity leave; providing on-site or near-site child care; providing high-quality breast pumps; and offering professional lactation management services and support This calls for policies and guidelines to support breastfeeding women and mobilising employees about breastfeeding;

The Uganda Environment Supporting Breastfeeding in the informal and formal Sectors is a function in the realm of maternity and paternity protection (MPP), Research suggests that women who are employed full-time are less likely to initiate breastfeeding and to continue breastfeeding once they return to work, owing to a number of workplace-related impediments UNAP has as one of the interventions, “Develop maternity and paternity protection (MPP) guidelines to promote baby friendly practices”. The development of this guideline is entrusted to the Ministry of Gender as the main actor since these rights are well entrenched in the Employment Act No. 6 of 2006.Research

This is in line with recommendations of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 183 on promoting equality of all women in the workforce and the health and safety of the mother and child, and in order to recognize the diversity in economic and social development of Members, as well as the diversity of enterprises, and the development of the protection of maternity in national law and practice, and Noting the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948),

Justification Given the substantial presence of mothers in the work force, there is a strong need to establish lactation support in the workplace to address; 1.Lack of flexibility for milk expression in the work schedule, 2.Lack of accommodations to pump or store breast-milk, 3.Concerns about support from employers and colleagues 4.Promoting breastfeeding at work benefits to parents, the child and the employer as well.

What has been done in Uganda The parliament of Uganda is the first public institution to offer a breastfeeding facility in the country. The facility comprises of a play area, kitchen, sleeping area, breastfeeding room and bathroom. The facility has been welcomed and applauded by nursing mothers including; Josephine Watera, a Principal Research Officer, who is amongst the first beneficiaries of the facility said, “I did not have to take my annual leave to look after my baby because I am able to bring her to the breastfeeding centre and occasionally take breaks from work to breastfeed her. This is a plus for me and gives me peace of mind”.

Commissioner Rosemary Sseninde, said the breastfeeding facility has shown Parliament’s commitment to practicing gender sensitivity and that. “Parliament is the first public institution to offer a breastfeeding facility in the country which puts it at the forefront of the promotion of gender sensitivity,” The initiative is expected to spur other public institutions to adopt similar good practices and for employers to invest in workplace breastfeeding programs and policies.

Strategy for way forward Guidelines on MPP will therefore facilitate fulfillment of the legal provisions of the country and allow women to better meet their roles as mothers of the nation. There is need to expedite the development of the maternity and paternity protection guidelines to promote baby friendly practices