As part of activities to commemorate the maiden National Self-Care Day, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has called on Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their own health and well-being.
Professor Pate, who made the call in Abuja, explained that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity in Nigeria’s push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The minister emphasised that promoting self-care will not only ease the burden on the health system but also empower Nigerians to take control of their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Represented by Pharmacist Olubunmi Aribeana, Director, Food & Drugs Services Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Pate further explained that, “Self-care is more than taking medication or eating healthy; it is the intentional choices we make every day to protect, preserve, and promote our physical, mental, emotional, and social health.”
Self-Care Day is observed globally on July 24, as a reminder that caring for one’s health should be a continuous practice—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To institutionalize this approach, the government unveiled two key policy documents: the National Guidelines on Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health and the Demand Generation Strategy for promoting self-care practices, particularly in underserved areas.
Pate stressed that transforming Nigeria’s health outcomes cannot rely solely on clinics and hospitals, but must involve empowering citizens to make daily healthy choices.
“The power to transform health outcomes rests not only in our clinics and hospitals but in our homes, our schools, our communities, and in each of us,” he stated.
In her remarks, Binyerem Ukaire, Director, Family Health Department in the Ministry, reinforced the importance of prevention, protection, and empowerment as pillars of Nigeria’s evolving health agenda.
“Healthcare is not just about treatment; it is about prevention, safeguarding lives, and giving people the tools to make informed choices,” she said.
The Ministry called on civil society, the private sector, and development partners to support efforts in building a self-care culture across all demographics.