CAPE TOWN, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Wednesday joined the global community in observing World Patient Safety Day, calling for collective action to protect children from preventable harm in healthcare settings.
"Patient safety remains the cornerstone of high-quality health care," the Department of Health said in a statement, emphasizing the need to make safety a universal health priority by fostering collaboration among patients, families, healthcare workers, and leaders to implement safer practices and improve outcomes.
World Patient Safety Day, held annually on Sept. 17, promotes global cooperation to reduce harm and enhance safety in healthcare systems. This year's theme, "Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child," underscores the importance of protecting children from avoidable risks.
"Every child has the right to safe, quality health care from the very beginning. However, newborns and young children continue to face higher risks due to their rapid development, evolving health needs, and different disease patterns," the health department stressed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around one in 10 patients globally is harmed in healthcare, with unsafe care causing more than three million deaths each year. Common adverse events include medication errors, unsafe surgical procedures, healthcare-associated infections, and diagnostic mistakes.
"Strengthening safety in paediatric and newborn care is essential for any country to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 target of ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under the age of five," the department said.
"The department calls on parents, caregivers, health practitioners, health care leaders, educators, and communities to join hands in action to prevent avoidable harm in paediatric care and to build a safer, healthier future for every child," it added.
To mark the day, the department, in collaboration with the WHO and the Public Health Association of South Africa, hosted an online webinar that brought together healthcare organizations, professional bodies, and civil society groups. Discussions focused on patient safety in facilities, healthcare-associated infections in children, safety within families and communities, and the prevention of childhood injuries and trauma. ■
