Windhoek: Namibia has joined the global community in observing World Patient Safety Day on Wednesday, an event designed to raise awareness and promote patient safety worldwide.

According to Namibia Press Agency, this annual observance, initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2019, was celebrated in Opuwo in the Kunene Region under the theme 'Safe care for every newborn and every child.' Dr Esperance Luvindao, the Minister of Health and Social Services, in a speech delivered on her behalf, emphasised that patient safety is not an abstract goal, but rather the fundamental foundation of healthcare.

Luvindao also highlighted that the day brings together all stakeholders in the efforts to eliminate preventable harm in healthcare, with this year's theme centred on newborns and children. She noted that the WHO has issued a call to action to strengthen newborn and paediatric safety by ensuring that every healthcare worker and every system is equipped to protect the most vulnerable members of society.

According to the minister, her ministry, in collaboration with its partners, has made patient safety a national priority. 'Namibia has committed, invested and has made significant improvement progress in maternal, newborn, and child health by improving access to antenatal and postnatal services, increased facility-based births, and strengthening health systems and service delivery,' she said.

Speaking at the same event, Kunene Regional Health Director Tomas Shapumba stated that ensuring patient safety requires collaboration across all sectors of society. Shapumba stated that the day encourages the nation to raise awareness, mobilise action, and celebrate progress towards patients at home, in clinics, and at other healthcare centres.

He also urged all stakeholders to reimagine hospitals as systems built on safety, where culture, behaviour, technology, and processes work together to reduce risks and minimise the impact of errors when they occur. 'As a custodian of patient care, I call upon all multidisciplinary teams to actively engage in patient safety initiatives. Report incidents and near misses, not to assign blame, but to learn, improve, and protect our patients from harm,' he remarked.