Promotion and Adoption of Self-Care Interventions in Nigerian Healthcare Delivery

The push for self-care interventions in the Nigerian healthcare system has gained momentum as experts in the field advocate for its immediate adoption to improve universal health coverage. At a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Health with support from John Snow Incorporated (JSI), speakers highlighted the importance of self-care in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of “good health for all.”

Dr. Gbenga Ishola, the team lead at JSI, emphasized that self-care is not about self-medication but rather about individuals taking responsibility for their own health with guidance from healthcare providers. The initiative aims to provide universal access to healthcare and improve the health of women and children through interventions in family planning.

The director of Family Health and Nutrition at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Rodara Folashade, stressed the importance of self-care interventions in improving healthcare delivery in the state. She noted that with many health workers migrating abroad, self-care can empower individuals to manage their health and reduce the burden on healthcare facilities.

The national guidelines on self-care for sexual, reproductive, and maternal health have been disseminated in 24 states, with Lagos State taking the lead in domesticating and contextualizing the guidelines. The move towards self-care interventions is seen as a crucial step in enhancing healthcare delivery and promoting individual responsibility for health maintenance.