Namibia joined the global community in marking World Patient Safety Day, commemorating the occasion at Opuwo in the Kunene Region.

Health and Social Services Minister Dr. Esperance Luvindao said the day is dedicated to ensuring safe care for every newborn and child, as patient safety is not an abstract goal, but it is rather the foundation of health care.

From the very first breath, every child deserves protection from preventable harm.

She said patient safety begins at birth and continues throughout childhood.

Together with families, communities, and health workers, citizens should ensure that every child receives the care they need to grow healthy, strong, and resilient.

Her speech was delivered on her behalf by the Kunene Governor. 

"This year's focus on newborns and children is therefore both timely and urgent. Every child from birth deserves access to safe, timely, respectful, affordable, friendly, and responsive health care, which results in an improvement in quality of life and health outcomes."

The World Health Organisation's call to action is towards strengthened newborn and paediatric safety, through ensuring that every health facility, every healthcare worker and every system is equipped to protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of society.

"The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with its partners, has made patient safety a national priority. Namibia has committed, invested and made significant progress in maternal, newborn and child health by improving access to antenatal and postnatal services and upholding the highest standard of safety."

Patient safety thus stands as a cornerstone of every effective health system, and neglecting this leads to consequences that extend beyond individuals, families, communities and nations – undermining fundamental trust and progress.