Butebo residents tipped on self-care practices for good health and wellbeing

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In a fresh push to encourage healthier lifestyles, the Government is urging Butebo district residents to embrace better self-care habits as part of a national health campaign.

“Go and try to change the way you live. Get thirty minutes of exercise every day and check your body vitals regularly because many people are grappling with non-communicable diseases. For example, the number of people with diabetes has more than doubled in the last five years,” said the director general of health services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Charles Olaro.



Dr Olaro likened self-care outcomes to traffic lights, where green indicates individuals are in good health and spirit. However, as they continue to work, their energy gets depleted, and they shift into yellow, a stage where symptoms start to show.

If the depletion continues without any change, it becomes severe, represented by the red stage. He said this particularly applies to men, who often do not exhibit good health-seeking behaviour and tend to wait until they are bedridden.

Dr Olaro advised residents to always take a break and re-energise, or seek medical care when they feel unwell or when symptoms begin to appear.

He was speaking during the commemoration of National Self-Care Day at Butebo district headquarters under the theme: “Self-care interventions for health and wellbeing. Unleashing young persons' potential.”

The event was graced by Hajjat Safina Musene, commissioner for BTVET, health education and training at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The period from June 24 to July 24 has been earmarked as self-care awareness month. It is dedicated to promoting the importance of self-care and well-being for individuals. During this time, people are encouraged to prioritise their mental, emotional and physical health by engaging in activities that support overall wellbeing.

Women receiving family planning services as part of the self care event activities. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

Other officials advise

The director of governance and regulations at the Ministry of Health, Dr Joseph Okware, said if people do not personalise self-care, they will not benefit from it.

“Make a resolution to engage in regular exercise, eating healthy, quit alcohol or smoking. You must do it yourself; no one will do it on your behalf,” Dr Okware said.

The commissioner for health services in charge of maternal, reproductive and child health at the Ministry of Health, Dr Richard Mugahi, said self-care cuts across all aspects of life and involves engaging in simple things that do not cost money. For example, doing exercises, sleeping for approximately eight hours, which is good for mental health, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.

“Everything should be done in moderation to suit the body’s needs,” noted Dr Mugahi, who also coordinates the self-care department at the Ministry.

On maternal and child health, he advised against conceiving every year.

“Space your children well because your body has to rebuild and regenerate. Seek antenatal services, and feed your children and yourself on a balanced diet, the kind of practice also termed as self-care,” he said.

Although taking medicine correctly is a pillar of self-care, the Acting Commissioner for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Medicine at the Ministry of Health, Martha Agilong, warned the public against self-medication.

“Love yourself and avoid self-medication, not to damage your health,” she noted.

The assistant commissioner in charge of health promotion and strategic health communication at the Ministry of Health, Dr Ronald Miria Ochatre, said self-care is a key component of health promotion and disease prevention.

“Diseases start from the household, communities, and they also end there. Self-care is all about whatever you as an individual [do] to make sure you take care of yourself before someone else helps you,” Dr Ochatre said.

He urged the community to be responsible for their health by undergoing screening and testing for health conditions such as non-communicable diseases — including diabetes, hypertension and cancers — as well as infectious diseases like malaria and HIV. This, he said, would promote healthcare and prevent disease at the individual, household and community levels.

According to Dr Ochatre, this approach will enable Uganda to achieve the goal of ensuring each household leads a quality and productive life.

The technical specialist for SRHR, Self-Care and Family Planning at the Ministry, Dr Roselline Achola, advised people to love themselves, avoid negative energy and be happy.

Bakko Emily Atuya, who represented the Nursing and Midwifery Department, urged health workers to teach people to live happily and eat healthily to increase their longevity.

“Health is repaired at home and only repaired in health facilities when it breaks down,” Atuya said, and appealed to the public not to allow their health to deteriorate.

Senior medical officer in the Reproductive and Child Health Department at the Ministry of Health, Chris Ebong, said self-care entails knowing and doing the right things. For people to practise self-care, he said, they need the right information, for example, how and what to eat, how to exercise and what to do when they do not feel well.

As part of the Self-Care Day activities, residents received free screening services for various health conditions, including HIV, diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell and family planning.

Understanding self-care

Self-care empowers individuals, families and communities to take charge of their health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), self-care involves promoting and maintaining health, preventing disease and coping with illness and disability with or without support from health workers.

It refers to engaging in activities that promote and maintain one’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

It is about actively taking steps to nurture oneself, manage stress and enhance overall health. While often seen as a luxury, self-care is essential for preventing burnout, promoting resilience and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Globally, self-care gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic after WHO launched the self-care guidelines in 2019 and expanded them in 2022 to cover other aspects of health.

Uganda was among the first countries to adopt and develop national self-care guidelines, which were launched in October 2024.