Lesotho: Liberation Breast Pump

I never would have said it before, but the breast pump was an incredible invention. They don’t seem to exist here in Lesotho, and I never would have imagined the difficulty that creates for women.

Women in this country breastfeed, almost entirely. Even with the high prevalence of HIV here, breastfeeding is essential, because otherwise the rate of malnutrition rises in a dangerous way. Breastfeeding is free, and the 250 malutis (30 dollars) it costs to provide a month’s supply of formula is too much for most women here.

However, going back to work for a mother with an infant at home is not straightforward. If she goes back to work, she has to buy formula, which will eat up much of her paycheck. For a married mom, this is an easier option because there is dad’s paycheck coming in—so it is easier to either stay at home or buy the formula. For a single mother, this is very difficult. And, since the breast pump doesn’t exist here, continuing to use their own free milk isn’t an option. Hence—the breast pump could really liberate the single mom in Lesotho. (I suppose the lack of refrigerators could further complicate things as well, but I’ll ignore that for now).