Universal health coverage through self-care will save lives – FG

The Federal Ministry of Health has explained how universal health coverage through self-care will save many lives in the country.

Speaking in Kaduna at a meeting aimed at informing key stakeholders in the Kaduna health sector on the implementation of the National Guideline on Self-care for Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) in Nigeria organised by John Snow Incorporated (JSI), a representative of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and Head of the Self-care Desk, Mrs. Remi Bajomo, said it was in line with the commitment of the FMOH and Partners to systematically engage and disseminate the self-care guideline in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

She said the states included Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers and Lagos States, Kaduna and the FCT.

“With this meeting, Kaduna becomes the 25th state where this dissemination has occurred. Plans are ongoing to carry out the same advocacy and engagement visits in the remaining States of the federation,” she said.

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She said the FMOH and Partners have developed the Demand Generation Strategy for Self-care interventions to create awareness and change the perception and behaviour around self-care interventions while a monitoring and evaluation framework has been developed to monitor the progress of the implementation of self-care intervention in Nigeria.

She appreciated the partners for developing the National Guideline on Self-care and assured of ensuring seamless and effective implementation.

She urged stakeholders in Kaduna and the various stakeholders within their wide sphere of influence to play their roles to achieve successful implementation of the National Guideline on Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health in Nigeria.

“As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), let me reiterate that Self-care is the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health care provider.

“Self-care has become more important with the rapidly growing population of Nigeria and the consequent pressure on the limited conventional healthcare facilities,” she added.

Gbenga Ishola, Team lead for the Self Care Accelerated Project (S- CAP Project) for John Snow Incorporated (JSI), said that the project was to ensure that Universal Health Coverage goals and objectives are met.

“That is one of the objectives of Self Care in addition to the ability of individuals/communities and people to be able to take care of their healthcare needs through the support of healthcare providers.

“We want to see how the Kaduna state government will domesticate the guidelines especially based on their socio-cultural and political and economic environment.”

Director of Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, commended the FMOH for developing the manual for sexual and reproductive health as well as maternal health which he said will go a long way in addressing maternal mortality in the state and the country at large.