About Self Care

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that a staggering 400 million people globally lack access to essential health services, and it anticipates a worldwide shortage of health workers. This situation was exacerbated in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Essential health services, such as information, childhood immunization, interventions for non-communicable diseases, antenatal care (ANC), and postnatal care (PNC), became challenging due to restricted movement and economic constraints within various communities. The limited self-care practices among Ugandans, particularly in urban communities, increased unwanted pregnancies, increased deaths from non-communicable diseases, more cases of mental health illnesses, and an increased number of students dropping out of school.

In Uganda, self-care initiatives have primarily focused on women, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) products and practices. These initiatives have been introduced and scaled up, enabling individuals, especially women and girls, to participate more actively and safely in their healthcare, particularly in managing physiological life events such as menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, and childbirth. However, other vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and retirees, have been overlooked. These individuals face challenges as a result of aging, such as sudden declines in physical activity, decreases in social interactions and income, mental health decline, and difficulties in navigating longer distances to access essential services. Therefore, they require extensive self-care to enhance their well-being.

Self-care interventions, which place individuals at the heart of care, are emerging as some of the most promising and innovative approaches to enhancing health and well-being. These interventions empower individuals to take charge of their health, transforming healthcare delivery and how individuals seek care. This is particularly crucial for vulnerable populations who often find conventional health services inaccessible or perceive them as beyond their reach.

It's upon this background that UHF has partnered with the Ministry of Health to position self-care on top of government and private sector agendas.

- Uganda Context (Journey)