By Sola Shittu, Gombe

Experts on Reproductive Health on Wednesday agreed that self-care guidelines will reduce the increasing rate of maternal mortality and other health challenges in the country.

Dr. Adewole Adefalu, a Reproductive Health expert who is also the Country Director, Jo Snow Incorporated, stated this at a one-day Orientation/DQA meeting with State Family Health Stakeholders on National Self-Care/Self-Injection Guidelines held in Gombe.

He said through sensitisation a lot of women would be aware of emerging health challenges, which includes cancer and infertility issues.

“Self-care in itself looks at the opportunity for people to take control of their health and there are basic things you can do that you will not have to get to the hospital for some of our women.

“They can be empowered with information on how to do them, some of which are family planning methods and fertility control for those who want to have kids and are having challenges.

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“This will provide awareness about issues relating to the diagnosis of cervical cancer to help women provide information towards preventing cancer,” he said.

Adefalu added that the Coronavirus pandemic spurred the interest to increase to standardise self-care.

Director in charge of family planning branch Federal Ministry of Health Dr. Lawrence Anyanwu, said the government has realised the far-reaching impact of self-care, towards improving the health care of citizens, especially women.

Anyanwu stressed that stakeholders would be better equipped to sensitise residents of Gombe to the successful uptake, adding that:

Gombe State Commissioner for Health Dr Habu Dahiru assured said the government would support the implementation of the guideline, adding that efforts are geared towards mobilising towards it success.

“I assure you that government will give high priority to this programme during its implementation and in particular, I want to emphasise issues of counterpart funding and mobilization of health workers to key into this programme to ensure success,” Dahiru said.