…As Borno State Advances Domestication of National Guidelines on Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Special Adviser to the President on Health- Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, has called for the expansion of self-care guidelines in Nigeria beyond sexual, reproductive, and maternal health (SRMH) to include non-communicable diseases and broader health concerns. This call comes as stakeholders in the nation’s health sector intensify efforts to domesticate the National Self-Care Guidelines for SRMH, with Borno State making significant progress in integrating these guidelines into its health programs.

Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas delivered this message during her goodwill address at the recent Borno State Domestication Workshop of the National Guidelines on Self-Care for Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health, held recently in Abuja.

Organized by the Borno State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) Nigeria, the workshop brought together stakeholders from federal and state health ministries, primary healthcare agencies, and local partners.

The initiative aims to integrate the National Self-Care Guidelines for SRMH into Borno State’s health programs, ensuring they are accessible and tailored to the local population’s needs, especially considering the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The domestication process adapts the national guidelines for effective implementation at the state level, taking into account Borno’s unique context and challenges.

During the four-day workshop, participants extensively discussed how Self-Care can enhance public health initiatives, youth engagement, and the inclusion of non-communicable diseases within the national health agenda.

Dr. Anas emphasized that promoting Self-Care is pivotal to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for self-care interventions and stressed that expanding these guidelines beyond SRMH to encompass Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Elderly Health (RMNCAEH) would be instrumental in Nigeria’s health system strengthening efforts. She further urged Borno State authorities to implement the domestication of the guidelines comprehensively across all 27 local government areas to maximize impact.

In her goodwill message, Hadiza Aminu, a board member of WRA Nigeria, highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting the Borno State Government and IRC in domestication efforts. She reiterated WRA Nigeria’s dedication to ensuring the guidelines translate into tangible improvements for women, children, families, and post-conflict refugees in Borno State.

“Since 2023, WRA Nigeria has collaborated closely with the International Rescue Committee to advance self-care interventions in humanitarian settings, with a special focus on Borno State. Our partnership empowers communities—especially women and girls—to take informed ownership of their health through evidence-based self-care practices,” Aminu stated. She described the workshop as a critical milestone in Borno’s healthcare landscape, promising innovative, people-centered healthcare solutions through the domesticated guidelines.

Dr. Oyeniyi, Director of the Family Health Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, commended Borno State for its proactive steps in domesticating the national guideline. He encouraged the state ministry to establish a dedicated Family Health Department to address women’s health issues more effectively, noting that eight other states have already done so.  He affirmed that the national Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) framework would support the functions of such a department.

The Special Adviser on Health to the Borno State Government, Dr. Abubakar Hassan, in his keynote address, reaffirmed the relevance of self-care in achieving Universal Health Coverage in Borno State. He emphasized the importance of considering the state’s peculiarities, especially the challenges in reaching remote areas, and pledged the state’s continued commitment to the domestication process.

Representing IRC Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Afolabi-Health Coordinator’s goodwill message highlighted that Self-Care interventions if incorporated into the health system has the potential of improving health indices, help the state recover from conflict and help bridge the gap of access to health care.

Professional health groups such as the Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), both represented at the workshop, reaffirmed their commitment to championing Self-Care initiatives for women’s health. Their involvement reflects the broad-based support for the domestication and implementation of the self-care guidelines.

The Borno State Self-Care Advocacy Network (BSAN), represented by Ibrahim Jidda, highlighted the network’s role in creating awareness on Self-Care issues and advocating to policymakers and other stakeholders within Borno State. BSAN through its advocacy efforts, has been instrumental in ensuring the implementation of Self-Care programs, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, thereby enhancing community engagement and access to essential health services.

Other key partners, including representatives of people living with disabilities and various community health organizations, also expressed their support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of inclusive Self-Care programs that address the needs of all populations, including those in remote locations.

The next phase of the domestication process will involve a review and validation meeting of the domesticated guidelines for Borno State, ensuring they are fully adapted and ready for implementation across the state.

Background::The National Self-Care Guidelines promote self-care as a strategy for individuals, families, and communities to maintain health, prevent disease, and manage illnesses with or without direct support from healthcare professionals. This approach aligns with the World Health Organization’s recommendation of self-care interventions as a critical pathway to Universal Health Coverage, particularly in regions like Borno State where access to healthcare is limited due to ongoing humanitarian challenges.

This workshop and the ongoing domestication efforts represent a significant step toward strengthening health systems in Borno State and improving health outcomes for its most vulnerable populations