KENYA – Leading fruit processor in Kenya, Del Monte has cut the ribbon to its new breast feeding center aimed to empower its female employees as they claim their right to breastfeed.
According to the fresh fruit juice producer, the launch of the facility is in line with the recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), that children should feed exclusively on breast milk for the first six months of their lives.
The launch also aligns with The Kenya Health Act, 2017 that mandates employers to set up breastfeeding stations and offer breastfeeding breaks at workplaces.
In addition to the Breast Feeding Center, Del Monte Kenya will also offer breastfeeding classes to pregnant & breastfeeding mothers to educate them on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding & how to breastfeed in the right way.
“At Del Monte Kenya, it is our team member’s well-being that gives us the capacity to provide wholesome, safe and fresh products, and as a company, we do our part by ensuring that our staff is cared for in all that we do.”
Vicky Mutungwa – Quality Control Manager, Del Monte Kenya Limited
The initiative is part of its recently launched women health and empowerment program undertaken in partnership with the United Nations Foundations.
The partnership seeks to disseminate information pertaining to reproductive health, cancers, menstrual health, contraceptives, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and gender-based violence.
The information will be offered through training and issuances of newsletters, pamphlets, and fliers.
In addition, Del Monte Kenya is planning to expand its on-site health services in existing company’s health clinics and provide reproductive health services and family planning.
They are targeting to reach 10,000 women to include employees and community by the year 2024.
Mrs Vicky Mutungwa, Quality Control Manager, Del Monte Kenya Limited, said, “At Del Monte Kenya, it is our team member’s well-being that gives us the capacity to provide wholesome, safe and fresh products, and as a company, we do our part by ensuring that our staff is cared for in all that we do.
“This we do, with a strong conviction that we cannot achieve “A Better World Tomorrow’’ without the support, dedication, and talent of each of our team members, including our women.”
Women make up 45% of the company’s 6,500 employees and it has also committed to offer them fair wages, a safe workplace, access to quality health care and opportunities for growth.
With the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, the company deployed a range of resources within and beyond its business premises, aimed to curb the spread of the corona virus and mitigate its effects.
Del Monte was among the first companies in Kenya to open a 6-bed holding room to be used in the event of employees exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, before they are referred to government health facilities for further treatment.
Other measures undertaken by Del monte to ensure safety of its employees and other personnel within its industry include ramping up hygienic standards by increasing cleaning frequency of the factor, having more hand-washing stations and sanitizers at each department and company premises.
Social distancing as one of the protocols recommended by the WHO, has also been instituted at the company coupled with the installation of shields between the factory operators while at the processing area.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
