Today, on Self-Care Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new resource – a competency framework - to help health and care workers support people’s self-care efforts. Self-care interventions enable people to test for and manage diseases and disability, prevent illness, or get information relating to their health.

“Self-care interventions are an integral part of health systems and can significantly expand options for delivering health care services, especially for those who are most underserved,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and HRP at WHO, who is also a midwife by training. “Health and care workers play an important role in helping people understand and use self-care approaches and tools  – whether to self-test for pregnancy, COVID-19 or HIV, manage their fertility or self-monitor chronic health conditions - these resources aim to support them in this endeavour.”