Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded the alarm over the urgent need for safer medical care for newborns and children, warning that millions of young lives are at risk from preventable harm in hospitals worldwide.
Speaking on World Patient Safety Day 2025 under the theme “Patient safety from the start!”, WHO stressed that every child deserves quality care from birth. Yet, weak health systems, poor safety standards, and limited family engagement leave children highly vulnerable.
Data presented showed that up to one in two children admitted to hospital wards suffer harmful incidents, while in some intensive care units, the rate rises to nine in ten.
The biggest threats are medication errors, infections, surgical complications, and device mishandling.
Children with complex conditions or those reliant on medical technology face the greatest danger—particularly in low-resource countries where shortages of sterile equipment, clean water, and trained staff worsen risks.
But WHO insists the crisis is preventable. Evidence shows better quality care could save one million newborns annually, while stronger family involvement could cut risks by 15%.
“Safe care for children is not optional. It is a prerequisite for equity, resilience, and sustainability,” WHO declared, urging governments, health workers, educators, parents, and civil society to act.
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