Nigeria Holds Inaugural Self-Care Conference as Ebola Index Case Spurs Hygiene Push
Updated
Updated · THISDAY Newspapers · Oct 22
Nigeria Holds Inaugural Self-Care Conference as Ebola Index Case Spurs Hygiene Push
3 articles · Updated · THISDAY Newspapers · Oct 22
Summary
Abuja hosted Nigeria’s inaugural National Self-Care Conference, where the federal government urged wider self-care practices to help tackle public health emergencies and improve health outcomes.
Health Minister Iziaq Salako tied that push to the Ebola index case reported on Monday, calling for hygiene, disinfection and cooperation with public health officials as containment efforts continue.
Salako said self-care should be integrated into primary healthcare through worker training, community education, quality-assured self-testing products, digital tools and AI, while stressing it cannot replace professional care.
Society for Family Health said stronger links between self-care and primary healthcare, sustainable financing, responsible technology use and community participation are needed to advance universal health coverage.
The conference theme — “Test, Track, Thrive” — framed self-care as a way to expand prevention, early detection and chronic-disease monitoring beyond clinics into homes, pharmacies and communities.