Health Minister Salako Advocates Self-Care to Combat Ebola

On Wednesday, at the inaugural National Self-Care Conference in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, called on Nigerians to embrace self-care to help prevent the spread of Ebola. The conference was themed “Self-Care: Put Your Health in Your Hands: Test, Track, Thrive”.

Salako emphasized the importance of healthy habits, monitoring health conditions, and seeking professional medical attention when necessary. He highlighted that self-care includes practices such as hand hygiene, appropriate disinfection, healthy eating, physical activity, and adherence to prescribed medication.

However, he cautioned that self-care should not replace professional healthcare or absolve the government of its responsibility to provide accessible and affordable health services. Salako also urged state governments to integrate evidence-based self-care interventions into health policies and called for improved access to reliable testing services.

The World Health Organisation Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, supported the notion that self-care can bridge gaps in healthcare delivery.