The County Government of Kisumu and Kidogo Innovations have partnered to set up breastfeeding programmes within Technical and Vocational Training Centers to encourage student mothers to be comfortable in their institutions.
Witnessing the event was Education ICT and Human Capacity Development CECM Mr John Awiti and Martin Kiyeng of Kidogo Innovations.
Awiti revealed that the establishment and operation of baby care is a good thing for students in TVET centres.
He added that Kisumu County is set to play an important role in education with a huge potential contribution to accelerate provision and service delivery of quality affordable institution baby care for children of students.
Besides, Awiti said that Kisumu County is committed to supporting the training needs of the vocational centres including the well-being of students.
“Our partnership with Kidogo Innovations will provide much-needed support to students to manage their learning sessions. We have created baby care assisted centres to provide backup baby care for students who have an extra burden of where to leave their young children,” said Awiti.
Student mothers have been having a hard time learning and have to look after their babies at the same time.
“We seek to adapt the Early Childhood Model Centers dubbed ‘baby care centre’ in three of our institutions namely Akado, Ahero and Obange Training centres which are set to provide supervision and care for infants and young children during the day, particularly so that their parents can hold classes,” said Awiti.
Kisumu County has 26 centres and plans have been set up to establish and equip the remaining 23 centres in the county.
The program is intended to allocate space for the baby centres within the institutions. The spaces will then be renovated and well-equipped with play stations, bedding, toys and mats under the supervision of the Directorate of TVET and centre managers. Well-trained caretakers will also be provided at each centre.
Kiyeng said that Kidogo Innovations is keen to improve quality, affordable childcare and preschool services in low-income communities.