World Patient Safety Day 2021

World Patient Safety Day 2021 – Friday 17th September. The theme this year is “safe maternal and newborn care” and the World Health Organisation is urging stakeholders to “act now for safe and respectful childbirth!”

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. Fortunately, the majority of stillbirths and maternal and newborn deaths are avoidable through the provision of safe and quality care by skilled health professionals working in supportive environments.

The objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2021 are:

1. Raise global awareness on the issues of maternal and newborn safety, particularly during childbirth.
2. Engage multiple stakeholders and adopt effective and innovative strategies to improve maternal and newborn safety.
3. Call for urgent and sustainable actions by all stakeholders to scale up efforts, reach the unreached and ensure safe maternal and newborn care, particularly during childbirth.
4. Advocate the adoption of best practices at the point of care to prevent avoidable risks and harm to all women and newborns during childbirth.

Further information about World Patient Safety Day 2021 can be found here.