Mothers to breast feed at taxi rank
New facility gives parents privacy
Not even the dreaded load shedding can diminish the power of breast milk.
This is according to a Soweto mother of four who attended the launch of a breastfeeding station at the bustling Bara Taxi Rank in Diepkloof, to mark the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week, yesterday.
Thembekile Mabusa, who was among the mothers who were feeding their babies inside the station, remarked on the benefits of breast milk.
Mabusa said breast milk was both nutritious and convenient in case of power outages.
“When there is load shedding I don’t have to worry about lighting up a paraffin stove in order to prepare formula. I just take out my breast and feed my child,” she said.
Mabusa said the breastfeeding station was a great idea as most mothers struggle to feed their babies in public places.
The global campaign, which is aimed at encouraging mothers to opt for breast milk as a nutritious meal for their babies, runs from the August 1 to 7 every year.
World Health Organisation recommends that mothers should breastfeed exclusively for the first six months.
Medical and Scientific manager at Nestlé, Anne Marie de Beer, said they decided to put up the breastfeeding station during the month of August in order to provide mothers with a comfortable place to feed and change their babies.
The station is part of a pilot project to gauge the responses from mothers with the aim of possibly setting up similar shelters in other public spaces.
De Beer said Nestlé was already doing it at their offices where employees have rooms where they can express their breast milk.
“We realised that mothers feel more at ease knowing that they are still able to give their babies breast milk even if they are at work” she said.
In Limpopo the week was started by launching the first breastfeeding room inside a workplace in the province.
Spokesman for the national Health Department Popo Maja said they would continue to encourage women to breastfeed at any location. “Although breastfeeding in public places is legal, the cultural and social perceptions which serve to make breastfeeding a taboo, still hamper many mothers,” Maja said.