There Should Be Breastfeeding/Lactation room in Nigerian Companies

I never knew about breastfeeding or lactation room,until a friend of mine who is well travelled told me that when she visited Dubai,she noticed they had lactation rooms in most buildings.She said that this room is a private area different from the toilet where a woman can use a breast pump and also nurse her baby.I was really impressed by what she had told me and decided to do some research on the availability of breastfeeding room in Nigerian companies .

Presently,I do not think there is any company in Nigeria that has a room for breastfeeding.Please inform me if you know of any.Nigerians travel far and wide,so this is not a strange concept.They must have seen a room labelled as lactation/breastfeeding room and would have used such room.So why can't it be replicated here in Nigeria.There should be legislations to drive this- where employers(especially large firm with thirty or more employees)must carve out private spaces for nursing mothers different from the toilet.

Maybe Nigerian Companies do not see the economic sense of having such a room.They may see it as additional cost along with the perception that nursing mothers may use the room as an opportunity to stay off work.

Companies should set up a breastfeeding room for staff and visitors,and to have such a room is inexpensive.Items needed include-a comfortable chair,air condition,a small fridge,a sink,a table,electrical platform and waste bin.The list can go on and on,it depends on the company.

Research has shown that most women quit their jobs after giving birth because their employers are not able to support them,in terms of providing breastfeeding rooms,on-site day care centres among other things.Many working women who just gave birth will like to continue breastfeeding their newborns,and support from their employers will go a long way.

Recently there has been increased advocacy for the need to breastfeed a child at least for the first two years of life.Breastmilk is an all important nutrition to bring about a healthy child .The breastfeeding room supports nursing mothers in carrying out this all important process.The benefits of having a breastfeeding room includes-it brings  higher productivity levels,employee satisfaction and motivation,Increases the public image of the company,reduces the rate of resignation of valuable employees after giving birth,reduces sick time leave of mothers as their babies through breastfeeding are resistant to illness.

Companies in Nigeria should do a cost-benefit analysis on breastfeeding rooms.They will indeed notice that the overall benefits outweigh the cost.This is also a call to civil society,government agencies,companies,legislative bodies etc to look into this and ensure that a breastfeeding room is available in most(if not all) Nigerian companies.