Standard Bank Namibia has joined calls for breastfeeding-friendly workplaces by providing a dedicated space for employees who are breastfeeding or need to express breast milk.
Standard Bank executive officer Elzita Beukes says the bank’s ‘mommy’s room’, located at its head office in Windhoek, provides mothers with a private environment where they can express and store breast milk while continuing to work.
“Standard Bank Namibia established the mommy’s room to provide employees with a welcoming environment where they can express and store breast milk with dignity, comfort, and confidence,” she says.
Standard Bank Namibia health and well-being specialist Cicile Fouche says supporting breastfeeding mothers goes beyond providing a physical space.
“Supporting mothers during their breastfeeding journey is not only about providing a physical space, but about creating a culture in which employees feel valued, respected and empowered.
“The mommy’s room is one of the ways we are building a workplace that recognises and responds to the diverse needs of our people,” she says.
The bank says returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging for mothers who wish to continue breastfeeding, particularly when they do not have access to private facilities where they can express breast milk.
Standard Bank Namibia employee Dinelao Gabriel-Nandjigua says the facility has helped reduce the pressure associated with balancing work responsibilities and breastfeeding.
“Every time I walk into the mommy’s room, I am filled with a genuine sense of relief and gratitude. Having access to a space that is comfortable, private, welcoming and thoughtfully designed makes a meaningful difference during the workday,” she says.
Gabriel-Nandjigua says the facility has created a sense of belonging among working mothers.
Another Standard Bank employee, Imani Haufiku, says the facility supported her transition back to work after maternity leave.
“The mommy’s room has made a significant difference in my return-to-work experience.
“The room provides a clean, private and comfortable space for expressing and storing milk, enabling me to continue breastfeeding while remaining productive at work,” she says.
“I am immensely grateful for the thoughtful and intentional support offered by the bank to new mothers,” she says.
The initiative follows renewed calls from the government for employers to establish breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.
Deputy minister of health and social services Suzan Ndjaleka recently urged public and private sector employers to introduce breastfeeding-friendly workplace policies, including dedicated breastfeeding corners and flexible working arrangements, saying mothers should not have to choose between their careers and their children’s health.
