By Lola Seriki-Idahosa
Tracereporters –In order to ensure an effective and nationwide dissemination of the national guidelines on Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health, the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with Pathfinder International and partners held a one-day meeting with media and task them to create awareness for the program.
The orientation meeting with the media which drew media practitioners from across the country, was held on 22nd August 2023 at Bolton White Hotel, Abuja.
The effort is to constantly give adequate publicity to Safe-Care for sexual Reproductive and Maternal health and guarantee quality health outcomes from self-care interventions in Nigeria.
The partners include the White Ribbon Alliance, Nigeria (WRAN), World Health Organization (WHO), John Snow Incorporated (JSI), Society For Family Health (SFH), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Foundation (PSNF), Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), MWAN, UNFPA, MSION, IRC.
The Director and Head, VVF Branch, RH Division, DFH Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja Mrs. Remi Bajomo declaring the meeting open, she urged the various media outlets in the print and electronic and Online media to within their wide sphere of influence play their roles to achieve successful implementation of the National Guideline on Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health in Nigeria.
She said the overall goal is to accelerate progress towards achieving Universal coverage of sexual, Reproductive and Maternal health care services through rapid, safe and effective uptake of safe- Care interventions by 30% potential users by year 2025.
She said the objectives of the program is to “increase knowledge of National and state stakeholders on safe-Care for SRMH,
According to her, “The meeting aimed to orientate various print, electronic and Online media outlets on the implementation of the National Guideline on Self-care for Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) 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 said that the aim is to reduce unnecessary overdependence on health facilities for services which individuals or families could provide for themselves, adding that the benefits of Self-Care to the Health System has enormous benefits such as reduced workload on health care workers and increased access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in a safe and private space leveraging innovations and digital platforms to access or deliver safe and appropriate health care services.
She re-iterated that the Federal Ministry of Health is deliberate and committed to achieving universal health coverage through self-care interventions. In line with this commitment, the FMOH and Partners have systematically engaged and disseminated the Self-care guideline in over 23 States namely: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Kano, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers and Lagos States. Plans are ongoing to carry out same advocacy and engagement visits in the remaining States of the federation.
She said that the Ministry and Partners have developed the Demand Generation Strategy for Self-care interventions to create awareness and change the social perception and behaviour around self-care interventions while a monitoring and evaluation framework is being developed to monitor the progress of the implementation of self-care intervention in Nigeria
She commended the strong collaboration with development partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), John Snow Incorporated, White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria, Pathfinder International, Society for Family Health, International Rescue Committee (IRC), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) who have continuously worked collaboratively with the Government right from the commencement of the process of developing the National Guideline on Self-care to ensuring seamless and effective implementation.
According to her, the Federal Ministry of Health approved and set up the National Self-care Coordination Committee and the Self-Care Advocacy Network which feeds into the Coordination Committee in July 2023. FMOH, Pathfinder International and WHO collaboration to orientate media organizations as part of the Self-Care Advocacy Network on the contents of the Self-Care Guidelines for Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health and their role and responsibilities in its implementation will contribute to successful implementation of Self-Care at state and community level through their existing structures to ensure access to quality health services.
Mrs. Remi Bajomo further appreciate the support of donors namely the Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Swedish International Development Agency, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and USAID who have provided funding for Self-Care interventions.
It will be recall that in June 2019, following the release of the World Health Organization Consolidated Guideline on Self-care interventions for Sexual and Reproductive Health, the Federal Ministry of Health through consultative process, adapted the Guideline culminating to the development of the National Guidelines on Self-care for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health and a costed implementation plan which was officially launched in March 2022.
In his presentation, ‘What Is Safe-Care’ by Dr. Femi James, RMNCAEH Technical Officer, WHO said These Self-Care Guidelines will empower individuals to take timely action in disease prevention, improving their health and well-being as well as taking measures that ensure a healthy society; thus becoming a formidable contributor to improving the health and well-being of the Nigerian populace.
He disclosed that the national guidelines were an adaptation of the global guidelines of the WHO with modifications in line with the country health policies and programmes especially in the sexual reproductive and maternal health, tailored primarily towards the prevention of illness and certain health challenges.
Against this background, and in recognition of Self-Care Interventions as an effective tool for individuals, and collective health actions aimed at preventing diseases, improving the health and well-being of the populace, therefore ensuring a healthy society for all;
He disclosed that the national guidelines were an adaptation of the global guidelines of the WHO with modifications in line with the country health policies and programmes especially in the sexual reproductive and maternal health, tailored primarily towards the prevention of illness and certain health challenges.
The self-care initiative would enable “people to determine their health status without necessarily going into a health facility,” he said.
He noted that the practice was not really new to the people but was being carefully packaged into a national standardized form,
Also speaking, Dr. Amina Dorayi Country Director, Pathfinder International said the essence of the meeting is to interact with the media to create awareness of the National Guidelines.
Represented by Dr. Sakina Bello, the Country Director Urged Partners and media to commit themselves to thorough dissemination of the guidelines in their various states.
According to her, the media is a partner for everybody, ensure they are aware of this National Guidelines,
“Our mission for women is for them to access the services by themselves, the partnership safe-care is not a new thing, women should take charge of their Reproductive Health”.
Nigeria, which launched the National Guidelines on Self-care for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health in 2022 continues to be a trailblazer in global SRMH self-care through its adoption of Self Care interventions that cover self-injectables, self-testing and other key self-care products.
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 healthcare provider.
It has continued to empower women to manage their sexual and reproductive health no matter their location.
