Namibia Marks World Patient Safety Day with Focus on Newborn and Child Health

Namibia Marks World Patient Safety Day with Focus on Newborn and Child Health. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS) commemorated World Patient Safety Day 2025 on 17 September, joining the global community under the theme “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child” and the slogan “Patient Safety from the Start!”

World Patient Safety Day, an annual initiative led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), brings together governments, healthcare workers, patients, families, and development partners to eliminate avoidable harm in healthcare. This year’s focus highlighted the urgent need to safeguard newborns and children, ensuring that every child receives safe, timely, and respectful care from the very beginning of life.

MHSS emphasised that patient safety is a national priority, supported by partnerships that strengthen service delivery, workforce capacity, and community engagement. Efforts in recent years have included expanding antenatal and postnatal services, increasing facility-based births, and training healthcare professionals in evidence-based practices to reduce risks during maternal and child care.

These initiatives have yielded measurable progress. According to WHO data, Namibia’s maternal mortality rate declined from 449 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 139 in 2024. Infant mortality also decreased from 50.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 25.4 in 2024. While these improvements are notable, officials acknowledged that challenges remain in achieving global health targets set for 2030.

By observing World Patient Safety Day, Namibia reinforced its commitment to building safer health systems that protect mothers and children. MHSS noted that continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, skills development, and community awareness is critical to sustaining progress and ensuring no child is left behind.