As the globe commemorates World Patient Safety Day, which is marked annually on the 17th of September, Health Institutions and caregivers have been advised to carry patients along for proper information to achieve safe healthcare.
The theme of this year’s observance is “Safe care for every newborn and every child,” with the slogan “Patient safety from the start.
World Patient Safety Day, designated in May 2019, is an opportunity to raise public awareness and foster collaboration between patients, health workers, and caregivers to improve patient safety.
With an estimated 134 million adverse events occurring annually in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, patient safety is crucial to reducing preventable harm and deaths.
The Chairman, governing board of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Sampson Parker, said medical practitioners should uphold the premier canons of patient care, and a relentless pursuit of competence.
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A Pediatrician, Professor Nwadiuto Akani, who spoke on the theme of the Day, noted that the initiative emphasized reducing preventable harm in pediatric and newborn care by focusing on safer care from the initial stages of life.
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, Professor Datonye Alasia, also described patient engagement as a key to improving patient safety and has been identified as one of the six foundations of safer care.
Also, Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Rivers State branch, Pharmacist Promise Anele,m explained that medication safety is another responsibility of both the patient and the health care providers.
The Medical experts further urged Healthcare workers to improve patient safety by adopting several safe practices in administering care, such as directly involving patients and caregivers in the decision-making process when delivering healthcare services, and respecting their options regarding treatment and diagnosis.
