KAMPONG THOM: During the official launching ceremony of the "Model Breastfeeding Room" at Kampong Thom Provincial Hall and Kampong Thom Provincial Department of Women's Affairs, in collaboration with Helen Keller International and the GIZ MUSEFO Project on Tuesday, 29 March 2022, the Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom Province, Touch Sokha, said that the establishment of a suitable breastfeeding room in the workplace is to give women time to rest, and especially to give them time to pump breast milk in the room that is equipped with adequate materials and equipment.

He said that the breastfeeding room will make women feel comfortable and fresh at work, contribute to their better health, as well as for their children and families, which in turn will lead to increased productivity, reduction of staff absences and a reduction of staff health insurance costs. During this occasion, the Representative of the Provincial Health Department, Dr. Keo Dary, called on the Department and other workplaces to consider setting up a breastfeeding room to facilitate women who return to work but still need to continue breastfeeding.

He also expressed his full support for the proposals of Hellen Keller International on Infant and Child Nutrition and Child Care Promotion Project, and the GIZ MUSEFO Project, to initiate discussions with stakeholders to consider some concessions on maternity leave, the need to set up a breastfeeding room in the workplace, as well as the content of the salary stipulated in the Cambodian Labor Law. These efforts would help to contribute to new mothers breastfeeding their infants for 6 months in accordance with the policy of the Ministry of Health, and in accordance with the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development, Chou Bun Heang, also spoke at the ceremony and said that promoting the nutrition and feeding of infants and children is a cross-sectoral issue that requires good cooperation and participation from all parties on the necessary interventions and practical investments in relevant sectors, especially those of health, education, gender, economy and social protection.

Additionally, the Director of the Provincial Department of Women's Affairs, Sin Siphan, also said that the promotion of nutrition and feeding of infants and children in the workplace, including the establishment of a breastfeeding room, will contribute to the implementation of the 5th Strategic Plan on the second angle, on the promotion of education for women and girls, and the third corner on the promotion of women's and girls' health, prevention and control of HIV infection and nutrition problems.