The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on governments, health workers, partners, patients and families to make safety an integral part of care for everyone living with a noncommunicable disease.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi gave the call in his message marking the 2026 World Patient Safety Day.
TheFact Daily gathered that, World Patient Safety Day (WPSD), observed annually on 17 September, aims to raise global awareness about patient safety and call for solidarity and united action by all countries and international partners to reduce patient harm.
Dr. Janabi noted that for a person living with diabetes, cancer, heart disease or a chronic respiratory condition, health care is rarely a single encounter. It may involve years of consultations, tests, medicines, referrals and treatment. Each interaction, he said should improve health, yet each can also expose a patient to avoidable harm.
“Today, on World Patient Safety Day 2026, under the theme ‘Safe care for noncommunicable diseases’ and the slogan ‘Safe care for life!’, I call on governments, health workers, partners, patients and families to make safety an integral part of care for everyone living with a noncommunicable disease”, he said.
According to the WHO Regional Director, Noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, caused at least 43 million deaths globally in 2021. In the WHO African Region, they accounted for 37% of all deaths in 2019, up from 24% in 2000. Nearly two-thirds of NCD deaths in the Region are premature, compared with 41.7% globally.
He stated that NCDs were also a major cause of long-term disability and loss of function. Their growing burden is linked to risk factors including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity and air pollution.
“People living with NCDs often receive care from several providers and facilities over long periods. Harm can arise through delayed or missed diagnoses, medication errors, adverse drug interactions, weak follow-up or poor communication when a patient moves between services. Risks may occur during diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and self-management, and can be compounded by stigma, discrimination and barriers to accessing essential medicines and technologies”, he said.
Dr. Janabi stressed that expanding access to NCD services must therefore go hand in hand with improving their safety and quality. Strong primary health care can provide continuity, identify problems earlier and coordinate care across different levels of the health system. Health workers also need practical guidance, reliable supplies and workplaces where errors can be reported and used to improve care, without fear of blame.
He disclosed that Countries across the African Region were expanding integrated NCD services through approaches such as WHO PEN at primary care level and PEN-Plus at first-level referral facilities. These approaches bring diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to communities, while supporting safer care through evidence-based treatment protocols, clear referral pathways and regular monitoring.
Furthermore, he said people living with NCDs must also be partners in making care safer. They understand where services break down and where risks arise in daily life. Listening to their experience, communicating clearly and involving them in decisions can prevent harm and improve treatment outcomes.
“On this World Patient Safety Day, I urge Member States to embed patient safety in NCD policies and programmes, strengthen systems for reporting and learning from harm, and invest in health worker training, supportive supervision and the safe use of medicines and technologies” he said.
He therefore called on health professionals to follow evidence-based protocols and communicate openly with patients and colleagues. He also asked patients and families to speak up, ask questions and share concerns whenever something about their care was unclear.
“As WHO, we are committed to supporting Member States to strengthen primary health care, improve the quality and safety of NCD services, and ensure that the experience of patients and families informs how care is designed and delivered.
Every person should be protected from avoidable harm throughout their health journey. Together, we can reduce avoidable harm and build health services that earn and sustain the trust of the people they serve”, he concluded.
