World Patient Safety Day – established by the World Health Assembly in 2019 through resolution WHA72.6 on “Global action on patient safety” – is observed annually on 17 September. Objectives of the day are to enhance understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in health care safety, and promote action to prevent and reduce avoidable harm in health care. Each year, a new theme is selected to shed light on a priority patient safety area where action is needed to reduce avoidable harm in health care and achieve universal health coverage.
This year, World Patient Safety Day will focus on safe maternal and newborn care. Despite progress made in recent years, maternal mortality is still unacceptably high. Globally, approximately 810 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, around 6700 newborns die every day, amounting to 47% of all under-5 deaths. Moreover, about 2 million babies are stillborn every year, with over 40% occurring during labour.
Newborn deaths in the Western Pacific Region and globally are often preventable. Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) presents simple, cost-effective interventions that save newborn lives. EENC focuses on improving the quality of care during and immediately after birth. Full implementation of EENC in the Region could prevent at least 50 000 deaths each year.
Skin-to- skin contact with mother immediately after birth keeps babies warm, calm and healthy. Unnecessary separation newborns from mother exposes them to distress and infections.
Considering the significant burden of risks and harm women and newborns are exposed to due to unsafe care, compounded by the disruption of essential health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we take action to ensure safe maternal and newborn care.
Every mother and newborn child has the right to a positive and safe birthing experience
