Muscat: The Ministry of Health today observed the Eighth National and Seventh World Patient Safety Day, which is commemorated annually on 17 September. This year, the event was centered around the theme ‘Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child,’ a focus designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Oman News Agency, the celebration featured scientific lectures and discussion sessions that revolved around this year’s theme. The event also included an exhibition showcasing research papers and development projects in the field of patient safety. The goal of this year’s activities is to highlight the importance of raising public awareness about the risks to safety in the care of newborns and children across all healthcare settings. Additionally, the event aimed to empower parents, caregivers, and children in patient safety through education, awareness, active participation in care, and advocacy.
The World Patient Safety Day events will feature intensive awareness campaigns across governorates and hospitals. These campaigns will include educational initiatives, visual displays, exhibitions, and informational messages targeting both the public and healthcare workers. The Ministry’s Quality Assurance Center is organizing these activities in collaboration with relevant central directorates throughout September.
The theme for this year, ‘Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child,’ has been selected to align with international and national efforts to enhance maternal and child health. The focus is on ensuring that every child and newborn receives safe healthcare from birth through early childhood. The adoption of this theme underscores a collective commitment to collaborative action aimed at reducing mortality and injury rates among newborns and children. It also supports programs and policies that aim to ensure a safer, healthier future for coming generations.
The occasion was attended by Dr. Said bin Harib Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, alongside Their Excellencies, senior ministry officials, and 250 participants from the health sector, including various medical and paramedical professionals.