African health leaders marked World Patient Safety Day 2025 today, September 17, with a strong call to improve child healthcare. They stressed that children are among the most vulnerable patients and urged safer treatment, better training for health workers, and stronger health systems to prevent avoidable harm.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, urged governments, health workers, and communities to make safety a central part of healthcare. He described it as both a professional duty and a moral responsibility.
This year’s theme is “Safe care for every newborn and every child” with the slogan “Patient safety from the start!” Dr. Janabi highlighted the urgent need to improve care for mothers and children.
He explained that poor quality care—not lack of access—is behind most deaths, with 60 percent of maternal deaths and 56 percent of newborn deaths in low- and middle-income countries linked to unsafe practices. “These are lives we can and must save,” he said.
Although progress has been made—with 21 African countries now adopting National Quality Policies and Strategies—Janabi said more effort is needed. He pointed out that infection control measures and WHO standards are already saving lives, but urged countries to push harder.
The Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 gives a roadmap for safer healthcare. It calls for stronger clinical processes, better training for health workers, and active involvement of patients and families. It also includes teaching schoolchildren to understand their health rights and speak up for safer care.
WHO encouraged African countries to raise awareness about risks in child healthcare, involve managers and civil society in safety efforts, educate caregivers, and invest in innovation and research for safer practices.
“The vision is a world where no patient is harmed in healthcare, and where safe care is given to everyone, every time, everywhere,” Janabi said. He stressed that protecting children from harm at the very start of life is crucial to securing a healthier future for Africa.
