National Networks

NATIONAL Self-Care
networks

SCTG National Self-Care Networks contributes to building a coordinated, diverse, and influential self-care movement that is mobilized around common goals and messaging to advance self-care at the national and subnational levels.

NSNs pursue specific policy and advocacy priorities and, in collaboration
with the global SCTG, develop learning mechanisms around the extent to which national self-care guidelines promote scale-up of quality, affordable self-care for those in need.

NSNs prioritize community sensitization on self-care and social
accountability mechanisms to ensure that top-down policy and guidelines
changes take root at the individual and community level.

NSNs also engage grassroots networks and communities in mobilizing
demand and social accountability for self-care policies and programs
in these countries.

CURRENT
network

The SCTG’s current National Self-Care Networks are leading the charge on building the self-care
advocacy movement in the following countries:

ETHIOPIA
KENYA
NIGERIA
UGANDA
SENEGAL

SELF-CARE EXPERT GROUP
UGANDA

Established as the national self-care network for Uganda in 2019, the Self-Care Expert Group (SCEG) has been instrumental in the development, adoption, and piloting of Uganda’s national self-care guidelines. Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) is the advocacy lead for the network, which is led by the Ministry of Health. PSI provides technical support and convenes the network. 

OUR
PRESENCE

Across SCTG focus countries, our National Self-Care Networks (NSN) lead a consultative process 
to define a coordinated advocacy strategy for self-care, which includes, but is not limited to: 

  • Development of consolidated national self-care guidelines or integrating principles and practices of self-care into existing policies/guidelines. 
  • Engage target policymakers and influencers in supporting self-care and instituting self-care policies and financing at national and subnational levels. 
  • Increasing demand and accountability for self-care among target communities and constituencies, particularly engagement with broader advocacy opportunities for family planning, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and bodily autonomy. 

About
CEHURD

Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization founded in 2010 that is pioneering the justiciability of the right to health. CEHURD focuses its efforts on critical issues of human rights and health systems in East Africa, such as sexual and reproductive health rights, trade and health, and medical ethics, which affect the vulnerable and less-advantaged populations such as women, children, orphans, sexual minorities, people living with HIV/AIDS, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, refugee populations, and victims of violence, torture, disasters, and conflict. Their mission is to advance health rights for vulnerable communities through an integrated program of litigation, advocacy, and action research. 
LEARN MORE

WRA Nigeria is advocating for the Government of Nigeria to strengthen accountability processes at all levels of the maternal, newborn, and child health system to incorporate citizen’s self-articulated needs in all decisions and actions concerning their health to inform and improve the quality of services provided.

Learn more about WRA Nigeria

Key
Achievements

The Uganda MOH in collaboration with the SCEG piloted the National Self-Care Guideline in Mukono District in 2021. The pilot was a success and engaged village health teams, healthcare workers, religious and cultural leaders. This opportunity was also used to share information on self-care with young people and empower them to advocate for self-care interventions. The lessons learned from the pilot informed revisions to the guidelines and mobilization of support for scale-up of self-care interventions.
Self-care included in the Uganda Clinical Guidelines and National Essential Medicines List in 2023; to date, self-care has been adopted in 7 national policies and frameworks.
The Director of Curative Services, MOH has committed to include self-care in the Health Workers’ National Curriculum through collaboration with the SCEG. Policy makers have also pledged government funding for the implementation of the SRH Self-Care National Guideline, critical for meeting Uganda’s goal to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030. 
CEHURD spearheaded the East African Sexual Reproductive Health Bill, which includes progressive sections on accessibility to self-care services. The bill went through public hearings in partner states and was read at the East African Legislative Assembly in June 2023. This is an important policy win for the region.  

LATEST
Resources

Dive into these resources to learn more about our work leading up to icfp 2022

June 23, 2026

Nigeria Country Brief (Revision of National Guidelines)

Resource Type:

  • Guidelines

Language:

  • English
VIEW RESOURCE
June 23, 2026

Ethiopia Country Brief (VCAT Trainings)

Resource Type:

Language:

  • English
VIEW RESOURCE
April 8, 2026

RFA for National Self-Care Network Lead in Mozambique

Resource Type:

Language:

VIEW RESOURCE
Read More

LATEST
Stories

Read our latest blog posts and news

Advancing Self-Care in Nigeria: Expanding the National Guideline Across Life-Course

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Self-Care at the 2026 HLM on HIV: A Community Manifesto

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Reaffirming Global Commitments: Reflections on the 70th Commission on the Status of Women

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Global Commitments, Local Solutions: Women’s Health at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women

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Self-Care Conversations at the 76th ECSA-HC Health Ministers Conference 

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Self-Care, Gender & Youth Webinar Summary

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