Every year, World Patient Safety Day is celebrated on September 17, at the international level, the main aim behind the day is patient safety. World Patient Safety Day is one of 11 official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Health Day, World Chagas Disease Day, World Malaria Day, World Immunization Week, World No Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and World AIDS Day.
The day emphasis upon patient safety and reducing patient harm, the importance of the day increases nowadays as the world is tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
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According to the official website, the German Coalition for Patients – Aktionbündnis Patientensicherheit (APS) – has been contributing its experience and network as a platform for World Patient Safety Day since 2015. The Swiss Foundation for Patients and the Australian Platform for Patient Safety joined the idea at the time so it was a multi-country day of patient safety right from the start.
World Patient Safety Day 2021: Theme
Every year, the day is celebrated under a theme and this year’s theme is “Safe maternal and newborn care.” Through this theme, the World Health Organisation urges all to ‘Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!’
As per the data released by the health body, 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.
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World Patient Safety Day 2021: History
World Patient Safety Day was established in May 2019. The 72nd World Health Assembly established the day with the adoption of resolution WHA72.6 on ‘Global action on patient safety’.
World Patient Safety Day 2021: Celebrations
A combination of virtual and other activities are being planned by the WHO to observe and celebrate the Day in September 2021. WHO calls upon all stakeholders – governments, non-governmental organizations, professional organizations, patient organizations, academia and research institutes – to join the global campaign by lighting up iconic monuments in orange.