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Empowering Self-Care: WHO Unveils Competency Framework for Health and Care Workers

Today, on Self-Care Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a groundbreaking resource – a competency framework – aimed at empowering health and care workers to support people’s self-care endeavors. Self-care interventions empower individuals to manage diseases, prevent illnesses, and access critical health information.

“Self-care interventions are a vital component of health systems, offering expanded options for delivering healthcare services, especially for the underserved,” stated Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and HRP at WHO, a dedicated midwife. “Health and care workers play a pivotal role in helping people understand and utilize self-care approaches and tools – whether for self-testing pregnancy, COVID-19, or HIV, managing fertility, or self-monitoring chronic health conditions. These resources aim to support them in this noble endeavor.”

Approximately 3.6 billion people, half of the global population, lack access to essential health services. WHO strongly recommends integrating self-care interventions in every country as a critical step toward achieving universal health coverage. It empowers individuals to have more control over their well-being, broadens healthcare options, and facilitates easier healthcare accessibility.

Various self-care interventions encompass self-administered contraceptives, COVID-19 and human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, HIV and other sexually transmitted infection tests, blood pressure monitoring, pregnancy and ovulation tests, and techniques to manage stress, anxiety, substance use, and mental health disorders.

Moreover, during major disruptions to national health systems, such as health emergencies, self-care interventions offer a vital alternative to the usual facility-based services.

The Self-care competency framework comprises three essential components: competency standards, a knowledge guide tailored for health and care workers, and a curriculum guide for planning and delivering education and training.

The competency standards define ten key competencies for health and care workers to facilitate self-care in their clinical practice. These competencies emphasize people-centredness, decision-making, effective communication, collaboration, evidence-informed practice, and personal conduct.

“We invite countries, health and care worker education institutions, and employers to integrate these standards into education and practice, and to invest in a competent health and care workforce capable of providing people-centred, quality, evidence-based health services,” stated Dr. Jim Campbell, Director of the Health Workforce Department at WHO.

WHO defines self-care as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability. The new publications, jointly developed by WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and the Health Workforce Department, align with the implementation of WHO’s Guideline on self-care interventions first published in 2019 and updated in 2022.

This Self-Care Day, let’s celebrate the empowerment of individuals and healthcare workers in embracing self-care as a powerful tool for healthier lives and resilient communities. Together, we can foster a world where healthcare is accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances.

Fact Check: Debunking Hypertension Myths and Understanding the Facts

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a medical condition characterized by persistently elevated blood pressure levels in the arteries.

Blood pressure is measured using two values: systolic pressure (the pressure when the heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats).

Normal blood pressure is typically defined as values below 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure consistently exceeds 130/80 mmHg.

Now let’s examine and fact-check the statements made earlier regarding hypertension:

1. Myth: Hypertension only affects older individuals.

Fact Check: This statement is false. Hypertension can affect individuals of all age groups, not just older adults. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global burden of hypertension has doubled over the past 30 years, affecting 1.28 billion adults worldwide. While age is a risk factor for hypertension, younger individuals can also develop high blood pressure due to factors such as genetics, obesity, lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, and excessive alcohol consumption.

2. Myth: Hypertension is harmless and does not require treatment.

Fact Check: This statement is incorrect. Hypertension is a serious medical condition that can lead to severe health complications if left untreated. According to the WHO, high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and contributes to a significant number of deaths worldwide. It can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other related health problems. Treating and managing hypertension through lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, and, if necessary, taking prescribed medications, is crucial for reducing the risk of complications.

3. Myth: Hypertension is primarily caused by stress.

Fact Check: This statement is misleading. While stress can temporarily elevate blood pressure, the primary risk factors for hypertension are diverse. The WHO highlights that age, genetics, obesity, lack of physical activity, high-salt diet, and excessive alcohol consumption are significant contributors to the development of hypertension. Stressful situations may lead to temporary spikes in blood pressure, but long-term hypertension is influenced by a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors.

4. Myth: People with hypertension will experience noticeable symptoms.
Fact Check: This statement is partially true. Hypertension is often asymptomatic or “silent,” meaning individuals may not experience noticeable symptoms. The WHO reports that almost half of the people with hypertension are unaware of their condition. Regular blood pressure monitoring is crucial for early detection, as hypertension is commonly identified during routine check-ups or screenings. This emphasizes the importance of proactive monitoring and preventive measures for the timely management of hypertension.

5. Myth: Medication is the only treatment option for hypertension.

Fact Check: This statement is incorrect. While medication may be necessary in some cases, lifestyle changes play a significant role in the management of hypertension. The WHO recommends lifestyle modifications as an essential part of hypertension control. These include adopting a healthier diet, reducing salt intake, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. These lifestyle changes, combined with prescribed medication when needed, can effectively control blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications associated with hypertension. Hypertension Factsheet.

Note; It is important to rely on accurate information when it comes to health-related topics like hypertension. By understanding the facts, debunking myths, and adopting a proactive approach to hypertension management, you can take control of your health and reduce the risk of associated complications. Regular monitoring, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate medical care are key elements in effectively managing hypertension and promoting overall cardiovascular well-being.

 

Ugandans to benefit from Pfizer’s expanded access to medicines and vaccines

Pfizer, a leading global pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has significantly expanded its commitment to offer the full portfolio of medicines and vaccines to lower-income countries through its An Accord for a Healthier World initiative.

Uganda is proud to be among the five initial launch countries where Pfizer is working closely with the government and local health experts to identify how the Accord can most effectively support national health goals and impact patient lives in our country.

This transformative initiative is focused on greatly reducing health inequities that exist between many lower-income countries like Uganda and the rest of the world. Since its launch in May 2022, Pfizer has committed to providing access to all its patented medicines and vaccines available in the U.S. or European Union on a not-for-profit basis.

This means that Ugandans will have access to a broader and more immediate scope of consistent, high-quality products that can help improve the health and well-being of our citizens.

Pfizer has listened and understood the specific health needs of Uganda to identify how the Accord can most effectively support our national health goals.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Pfizer has provided professional healthcare education and training to support the delivery of the medicines and vaccines, and in November, Pfizer deployed its first Global Health Team to Uganda to help identify opportunities for long-term supply chain optimization.

This expansion of Pfizer’s product offering, combined with continued efforts to help address the barriers that limit or prevent access, will help us achieve and even expedite our vision of a world where all Ugandans have access to the medicines and vaccines they need to live longer and healthier lives.

New Measles-Rubella Dose for Children Is Introduced by the Health Ministry

As part of the routine immunization schedule, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has added a second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine for children older than one and a half years.

Dr Alfred Driwale, the manager of Uganda’s National Expanded Immunization Program (UNEPI), reassured the public that the global goal is to eradicate measles, and Uganda has chosen to start administering the vaccine in two doses since the current one only gives 85% protection.

A measles-rubella vaccination is administered to a kid at nine months of age, according to the current national schedule. The newly introduced second dosage, which will begin in March, will be given to infants aged one and a half years.

According to the Ministry of Health, all children between the ages of one and four will need to receive a second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine by October 2022; at that point, all children will need to have had doses of the vaccine in order to be deemed completely immunized.

While at the launch conference, countries discussed experiences on the introduction of vaccinations after the first year of life of children but also what Uganda may learn from abroad, which also included other immunization specialists from elsewhere in Africa.

According to Dr Simon Antara, Executive Director of the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Ghana has been an excellent example of a country that is performing well after one year of heavy coverage of recently launched vaccinations.

He stated that societies must be prepared to absorb new vaccinations when they become available, as immunization programs will evolve in response to the illness load that countries now experience.

Uganda, on the other hand, has plans to provide several new vaccinations for infants above the age of one year, including those against meningitis and yellow fever, initially in endemic regions. Dr Driwale notes that thus far, for children over a year old, they only have HPV for ten-year-old females and Tetanus for teenage girls.

As the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak, the World Health Organization has been reporting that countries experienced significant disruptions in the uptake of routine vaccines. However, according to Dr Driwale, these disruptions only occurred early on in Uganda’s experience, and the nation quickly developed stability in its healthcare system that allowed it to connect with people with routine services.

 

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AFHEG Foundation is a non-profit health organization in Uganda, that focuses on empowering young people and communities with accurate health and environmental information through creative storytelling, e-learning, and interactive gaming, enabling them to improve their quality of life while making informed decisions.

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