Namibia: Calls for supportive breastfeeding work environments to protect the health of mothers and children

Written by: Ayman Ragab

Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Susan Ndjaleka, called on employers in the public and private sectors to adopt breastfeeding-friendly work policies, stressing that mothers should not have to choose between their careers and the health of their children.

Ndjaleka's remarks came during the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week held yesterday at Windhoek Central Hospital, where she explained that providing sustainable support systems for breastfeeding mothers requires efforts that go beyond the health sector to include workplaces.

“Both the private and public sectors must evolve. A mother should never have to choose between her career and her child’s health. We call for strong maternity leave policies, dedicated breastfeeding spaces, and flexible working hours,” she said, according to the Namibian website.

She added that workplaces need to evolve to meet the needs of breastfeeding mothers, noting that this is not the first time the government has called for the provision of breastfeeding facilities in workplaces.

In 2024, The Namibian reported that the Ministry of Labor called on employers to provide suitable spaces for breastfeeding mothers, in response to a 2024 study by the Namibia Nutrition and Food Security Alliance (NAFSAN), which revealed that breastfeeding mothers were not receiving adequate support in the workplace.

Ndjaleka stressed that breastfeeding is not just the responsibility of mothers, but a shared responsibility involving health facilities, communities, workplaces and families.

She explained that the ministry plans to implement the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” in all maternity wards, antenatal clinics and health facilities in Namibia, along with expanding the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at the national level.

She said: “Every health worker should be a hero, trained to provide skillful advice and practical support so that every mother leaves the hospital feeling confident and empowered.”.

The deputy minister also called on local communities to normalize breastfeeding in public places and to work to combat stigma and misinformation, while urging fathers to become more involved in supporting mothers at home.

She said: “Support is not just a kind word; it is the father preparing a meal for the mother while she is breastfeeding their child, or taking care of household chores so that she can rest.”.

Ndjaleka noted that Namibia still faces challenges in improving breastfeeding rates despite its important role in reducing malnutrition.

She said the 2024 Smart Feeding Survey showed that only 49% of infants aged 0-5 months were exclusively breastfed, while the early initiation rate of breastfeeding was 63.6%, and the continuation of breastfeeding among children aged 12-23 months had dropped to 36%.

She added: “These figures tell us that our children are being weaned too early and are often fed inadequate complementary foods, directly exposing them to the risks of malnutrition and chronic diseases. We must change this situation.”.

She stressed that children should receive exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of their lives, before introducing complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding until the age of two.

She said: “The science is clear: babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives. From six months onwards, we should introduce safe and nutritious weaning foods while continuing to breastfeed until the age of two.”.

For his part, the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Samuel Okran, said during the event that breastfeeding-friendly workplaces are among the proven measures that help improve breastfeeding outcomes.

He added: “We know that mothers succeed when they receive good prenatal and postnatal counseling. We know that baby-friendly hospitals are effective. We know that supportive communities and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces make a difference.”.

Okran also called on fathers to provide effective support to breastfeeding mothers, saying: “When you need time to breastfeed, protect that time.”.

He added: “Breastfeeding is not just the mother’s responsibility, but a family responsibility, and the father’s responsibility as well. Every father who supports his breastfeeding mother is investing in his child’s health, strength, and future.”.

For his part, labor expert Herbert Gauch said that creating breastfeeding-friendly workplaces is part of a broader effort to promote gender equality and support working mothers in balancing their professional responsibilities with motherhood.

Gauch explained that maternity leave only covers the first few months after birth, while health recommendations encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding for longer periods.

He said: “Calling for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces is part of efforts to achieve gender equality and empower working mothers to balance their professional lives with being mothers.”.

He added that employers could take measures such as providing private and suitable spaces that mothers could use to breastfeed their babies or pump milk, as well as allowing breastfeeding breaks during working hours whenever possible.

He noted that procedures may vary from one workplace to another, but it is important that employers discuss these measures with mothers to reach the best possible solutions.

Gauch stressed that these interventions will not only benefit mothers and children, but will also contribute to creating more inclusive workplaces.

For her part, breastfeeding mother Esther Silas described the breastfeeding experience as a rewarding one that strengthened her relationship with her child.

She said: “Breastfeeding my baby for the first time was a special moment, and it helped my baby and me build a strong bond. I was delighted to know that my baby was getting all the nutrients he needed.”.

Silas added: “I would like to encourage all mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least six months, meaning not to feed them any solid food before six months.”.

The Namibian Federation of Employers could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.