|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Participants at the one-day training on self-care advocacy in Bauchi
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Federal Ministry of Health has disclosed that through the Self-Care Guideline, it has tried to provide national direction on the integration of the recommended self-care interventions for SRMH into the Nigerian health system using people-entered approach and evidence-based recommendations.
The Ministry also stated that it has provided national direction on the delivery of self-care interventions for SRMH in an enabling environment in the country.
The disclosure was made by the Director and Head, Family Health Department of the Ministry, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas at the High-Level Stakeholders’ Advocacy and Orientation meeting on the National Self-Care Guidelines for Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health as well as high level stakeholders’ advocacy on self-care guidelines in Bauchi on Thursday.
The Director explained that the idea behind the development of this key national document is to contribute to ongoing effort aimed at achieving better health outcomes by improving the provision and uptake of basic health services and supplies.
According to her, the major aspect of this process is the provision of opportunities to individuals and empower them to initiate basic health interventions to improve their health and well-being.
Dr. Salma added that “You will agree with me that following the successful development and launching of the National Self-Care Guidelines with the participation of stakeholders at national and sub-national levels, the next important step is the nationwide dissemination and implementation of the document”.
This according to her is to ensure that the intended benefits and effects are realized across the various communities of this country stressing that, “it is on this basis that our gathering here today has become very crucial as we are using it to officially roll-out the Self-Care Guideline to the good people of Bauchi State.”
She said that, “In this light, every man and women in this gathering here today should count ourselves privileged and lucky to be a part of the deployment of this document for use in improving the health and overall well-being of every Bauchi State resident irrespective of their location in the State”.
The Director who was represented by the Assistant Director, Dr Alex Ugochukwu said that to be able to contribute to the effectiveness of the roll out and implementation process however, it is very important that, “we understand our expected roles and responsibilities as individuals and members of our organisations and communities support men and women to take advantage well as be ready to f the provisions of the Self Care Guidelines in addressing their sexual, reproductive and maternal health needs using the structures available at the family, community and health facility levels”.
She emphasized that the state government as well as the local government councils have special roles to play in ensuring proper dissemination and implementation across the various local governments and communities in the state.
According to her, there is need to prioritize and integrate the recommendations of this and other related guidelines and policies in the health sector in key health and economic development plans. There is also need for the appropriation and release of funds for identified interventions as well as involvement of relevant stakeholders across public and private sectors including civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and non-governmental organisations, among other measures to ensure success.
She then thanked the Ministry of Health and BASPHCDA for the commitment so far demonstrated and gave assurance of the readiness of the Federal Ministry of Health to continue working with Bauchi State for policy and implementers towards successful implementation of these guidelines.
She also thanked John Snow Incorporated, World Health Organi Pathfinder International, White Ribbon Alliance, Association for and Reproductive Health, and other key Partner for their support in the process of developing, launching, dissemination an out of this guideline.
Dr. Salma expressed believe that the partners will continue to provide support in building necessary human and infrastructural capacity to ensure the full realization of the intended goal and objectives of the national document.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayyabu Mohammed Hassan commended the Federal Ministry of Health for coming out with the guidelines on self-care which he said is not new but needed to be regulated to avoid abuse.
The Permanent Secretary assured that having got the documents, the Ministry will study it carefully and see the area of implementation particularly through sustainable design and development.
He then called on the Health Focal persons from the LGAs who are attempting the training to pay attention to be able to put it into use when they get back to their respective local government areas.
