Tuaran: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sri Nangka Tuaran has become the first school in Sabah to open a special room where mothers can breastfeed their babies in private.
The school launched the breastfeeding room recently after working together with a local support group for breastfeeding mothers called Persatuan Sokongan Susu Ibu Negeri Sabah (AKSSI).
The opening ceremony was officiated by the school’s assistant principal, Justin Umpol, and Tuaran AKSSI leader Siti Zarina Abdullah.
“We want this room to help our teachers and student mothers who need a clean, private place to breastfeed their children,” said Siti.
“We hope more schools will do the same to support breastfeeding mothers in schools,” she added.
Health Department nurses and other supporters were also there to witness the event.
Before the opening, both SMK Sri Nangka Tuaran and SMK St John Tuaran held talks about breastfeeding for their female teachers and students in Forms 3 to 6.
The talks were meant to teach them why breastfeeding is important.
This is the first project of its kind and AKSSI hopes other schools in Sabah will follow the example.
The group has offered to help any school, office or organisation that wants to set up a similar room.
The project shows how community groups, schools and health workers can work together to help mothers and children.
