Brief Summary
The Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, announces Kenya's participation in World Breastfeeding Week 2025, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding as a public health priority. The focus is on creating sustainable support systems at all levels—home, community, healthcare facilities, and workplaces. While breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both infants and mothers, recent data indicates a decline in early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates, alongside an increase in bottle feeding. The Ministry of Health is responding by strengthening enforcement of regulations, expanding support initiatives, and establishing human milk banks. Employers are urged to establish lactation stations and provide flexible nursing breaks, as mandated by law, to support breastfeeding mothers returning to work.
- World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated in Kenya from August 1st to 7th, 2025, with the national launch on August 5th at Trango University, Migori County.
- Breastfeeding is crucial for infant nutrition, immunity, and cognitive development, and it reduces the risk of certain diseases for both infants and mothers.
- Recent surveys show a decline in breastfeeding rates and an increase in bottle feeding, necessitating urgent action.
- The Ministry of Health is scaling up interventions, including enforcing regulations, expanding support initiatives, and establishing human milk banks.
- Employers are required to provide lactation stations and flexible nursing breaks for breastfeeding mothers.
Introduction to World Breastfeeding Week 2025
From August 1st to 7th, 2025, Kenya will celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, with the national launch taking place on August 5th at Trango University in Migori County. The theme for the year is "Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems," which calls for collective action to build inclusive and lasting support for breastfeeding in homes, communities, health facilities, and workplaces. Breastfeeding is highlighted as a vital public health intervention, providing essential nutrients for infants in the first six months, strengthening immunity and cognitive development, and reducing the risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases later in life. For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and is environmentally sustainable, requiring no packaging, fuel, or waste management.
Concerning Trends in Breastfeeding Practices
The 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey revealed worrying trends in breastfeeding practices. Early initiation of breastfeeding has dropped from 62% in 2014 to 60% in 2022. Exclusive breastfeeding rates have also declined from 61% to 60%. Simultaneously, bottle feeding has increased significantly from 22% to 34%. These trends necessitate urgent and coordinated action to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding across the country.
Ministry of Health Interventions
The Ministry of Health is scaling up key interventions to address the decline in breastfeeding rates. These include strengthening the enforcement of the Breast Milk Substitutes Act of 2012. They are also expanding the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and the Baby Friendly Community Initiative, which involves over 1,500 community health units. Additionally, the ministry is establishing and scaling up human milk banks, such as the one at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, to provide a resource for mothers who may have difficulty breastfeeding.
Supportive Workplace Policies
The Ministry of Health is collaborating with other sectors to implement supportive workplace policies for breastfeeding mothers. According to the Health Act 2017, Section 71, all employers must establish a lactation station in the workplace. This station should be equipped with a clean, private space for breastfeeding and expressing milk, along with storage facilities. The act also requires that flexible nursing breaks be provided for lactating employees without any loss of remuneration or benefits. Furthermore, the Employment Act provides for 90 days of paid maternity leave for female employees and 14 days of paid paternity leave for male employees. These legal provisions are critical to ensuring that mothers can successfully breastfeed upon returning to work after maternity leave.
Call to Action for World Breastfeeding Week 2025
As preparations for World Breastfeeding Week 2025 are underway, an invitation is extended to all Kenyans, government agencies, development partners, civil society, employers, health workers, communities, and families to participate in this important campaign. The goal is to support mothers in breastfeeding by creating enabling environments in homes, communities, and workplaces. Breastfeeding should be promoted as a life-saving, climate-smart practice and protected from commercial interference and misinformation. Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice but a public health priority and a shared responsibility. By prioritizing breastfeeding and creating sustainable support systems, we invest in our children, safeguard the environment, and secure a healthier future for the nation.
