NewzBy Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to adopt self-care practices, including regular health checks, proper hygiene and responsible management of medical conditions, to prevent diseases and improve health outcomes. The government said evidence-based self-care could strengthen primary healthcare, reduce pressure on health facilities and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, made the call at the inaugural Nigeria National Self-Care Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The conference, themed “Self-Care Puts Your Health in Your Hands: Test. Thrive,” focused on equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills and tools to take greater responsibility for their health. Salako explained that self-care extended healthcare beyond hospitals to homes, workplaces and communities through healthy living, disease prevention, appropriate self-testing and responsible management of personal well-being.
He stressed that self-care should complement, rather than replace, professional medical services, adding that the government remained responsible for ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare. “Self-care does not replace professional healthcare nor absolve the health sector and government of its responsibility to provide accessible, affordable, and quality health services,” he said. “Rather, it complements the health system by empowering individuals to increase control, make informed decisions and seek timely professional care when necessary in order to improve their health.
“As government, therefore, we will continue to promote investment in health facilities, skilled personnel, essential medicines, and functional referral systems.” The minister said self-care could also strengthen primary healthcare, advance Universal Health Coverage and improve health outcomes across the country. According to him, appropriate self-care interventions could support disease prevention, maternal and reproductive health, the management of non-communicable diseases, mental well-being and the delivery of health information to underserved communities. He also highlighted the importance of self-care in preventing infectious diseases, referring to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) case mentioned at the conference.
“Self-care is also important in the prevention … The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to practise self-care, including regular hand hygiene and appropriate disinfection, to support efforts to contain Ebola virus disease following confirmation of an imported case in Abuja. Thrive.” Salako emphasised the importance of individual responsibility in preventing and controlling infectious diseases, urging Nigerians to adopt healthy practices and cooperate with public health officials to contain Ebola.
“Let me emphasise that self-care is also important in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including Ebola viral disease, which Nigeria is currently working hard to contain, following one imported case that was reported. “I therefore use this opportunity to call on the Nigerian public to observe self-care, like hand hygiene and appropriate disinfection, and cooperate fully with public health officials to contain the reported Ebola in this case,” he said. He said self-care empowered people with the knowledge, skills and tools to take charge of their health while extending healthcare beyond hospitals and clinics into homes, workplaces and communities.
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