POLICYMAKERS URGED TO EMBRACE SELF-CARE IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL HEALTH ISSUES

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Policymakers and health leaders worldwide are urged to embrace self-care as an essential component of healthcare, by ensuring it is fully integrated into national health systems and policies, as part of this year’s International Self-Care Day.

The Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) is urging members and campaigners to rally behind the #SelfCareIs movement, which aims to educate global audiences about the critical link between self-care and healthcare.

This initiative also encourages engagement with local policymakers and healthcare providers to call on them to put in place plans for the urgent integration of self-care into the healthcare delivery continuum.

“Our ‘Self-care is healthcare’ campaign is all about fuelling the movement for self-care to be recognised as an integral part of healthcare. It aims to drive greater awareness and recognition of the potential of self-care to people and policymakers across the world.

“At GSCF, we firmly believe that everyone benefits when there is a greater choice of healthcare options and more accessible entries to care,” said its Director General, Judy Stenmark in a statement.

As health systems worldwide continue to face a range of challenges from increased demand on services, to inequity in access to healthcare, evidence shows that self-care can avert an estimated 3.9 million premature deaths each year, through physical activity alone.

In addition, self-care is able to save billions of dollar each year for global healthcare systems and, therefore, national economies; improve the autonomy and agency of disadvantaged groups, including women and girls, in managing their own health; as well as provide a legitimate tool in the pursuit of universal health coverage.

First recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1983, the concept of self-care describes the role of individuals in preventing disease, promoting and maintaining their mental and physical health, and actively participating in their healthcare.

Representing associations and manufacturers in the self-care industry, promoting sustainable and better global health outcomes for all, GSCF is the go-to source of information for the self-care industry.

-- BERNAMA