World Patient Safety Day: Poor Care Causes 60% Maternal Deaths in Africa – WHO
Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged African countries to prioritise child and newborn safety in hospitals, warning that poor-quality care is responsible for 60% of maternal deaths and 56% of neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries.
Speaking in a statement to mark World Patient Safety Day 2025 on 17 September, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, described the figures as alarming and avoidable.
“These are lives we can and must save,” he said, calling on governments to raise awareness, invest in safer healthcare systems, and empower parents.
Janabi emphasised that patient safety is the foundation of healthcare and a pillar of Universal Health Coverage.
“This year’s theme, ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’, reminds us of our responsibility to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us,” he added.
WHO said progress is visible, with 21 African nations adopting National Quality Policies and Strategies that integrate infection prevention and control. But the agency warned that much more must be done to ensure safe care for every patient, everywhere.
“By placing safety at the heart of healthcare, Africa can give children healthier beginnings and brighter futures,” he declared.
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