Changing national health policies for introduction, uptake and scale-up of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

“Health for all, by all so that everyone in the Eastern Mediterranean Region can enjoy a better quality of life.” Dr. Al Mandhari, Regional Director, WHO Regional Ofce for the Eastern Mediterranean WHO defnes self-care interventions as a variety of tools which can be accessed and used by individuals with or without the direct supervision of a health worker. Advances in evidence-based health information, medicines, diagnostics, products and technologies have increased the potential for self-care interventions to increase health coverage for promotive, protective, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative needs of individuals, families and communities. Te increasing demand for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and the importance of ensuring universal health coverage (UHC) including coverage, quality and fnancial protection for SRH also highlights the need for engagement of WHO Member States in the EMR. Te 2019 WHO consolidated guideline on self-care interventions for health (“Guideline”) contains evidencebased recommendations and good practice statements on Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) [1]. Te conceptual framework on self-care interventions for health that informed this Guideline takes a peoplecentered approach for adopting, implementing and scaling up self-care interventions, and places emphasis on improving people’s health and well-being. Te framework is closely linked to the 17 interlinked Sustainable Development Goals and acknowledges that progress in health will require commitment to human rights, gender equality, equity and accountability through two complementary pathways of change to achieve the right to health for all. Tis includes (1) increasing the autonomy and agency of individuals to make informed health decisions regarding people’s health and well-being; and (2) transforming health systems to create safe and supportive enabling environments that promote and support the use of selfcare interventions [2].