From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
Residents of Bishi Village in Bauchi
local government area have benefited from an integrated community health outreach as Bauchi State joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 International Self-Care Day.
The outreach, aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and improving access to essential healthcare services, brought together health professionals and community members to encourage individuals to take greater responsibility for their health and well-being.
Speaking during the outreach yesterday, the Bauchi State Maternal and Child Health Coordinator, Jummai Inuwa, described self-care as a vital component of modern healthcare delivery, particularly in expanding access to quality health services for women and families in underserved communities.
Represented by the Maternal, Child Health and Family Planning (MCH/FP) Coordinator for Bauchi LGA, Ladi Musa, noted that the outreach provided women with a wide range of essential healthcare services, including family planning counselling and services, blood pressure checks, malnutrition screening, health education, and other preventive interventions designed to promote healthy living and facilitate the early detection of health conditions.
Musa urged women and families to adopt healthy lifestyles, seek accurate health information, make informed decisions about their health, and continue to utilise healthcare facilities whenever professional medical attention is required.
The outreach formed part of activities marking this year’s International Self-Care Day. It was organised by the Society for Family Health (SFH) through its Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC) Project in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Health and the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board.
The initiative also includes community dialogues and radio programmes aimed at increasing public awareness of self-care practices and improving access to essential health services across the state.
Also speaking, the State Programme Advisor for Service Delivery of the DISC Project, Pharmacist Alhamdu Nufin-Allah, said self-care interventions such as self-injectable contraceptives, HIV self-testing, pregnancy self-testing, and other preventive health practices are improving access to quality healthcare by equipping individuals with the knowledge, confidence, and tools needed to make informed health decisions.
He encouraged residents to embrace positive health practices and take advantage of available self-care interventions, stressing that empowered individuals and informed communities are critical to achieving universal health coverage and building healthier communities in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
Nufin-Allah added that the Society for Family Health will continue to commemorate International Self-Care Day in partnership with government and other stakeholders to deepen public understanding of self-care as an essential complement to the healthcare system.
