Minister Assures Nigerian Children Of Safety

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Patient Safety Day on Tuesday, the federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening patient safety, particularly for newborns and children.

At a press briefing in Abuja, the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali described child safety as a moral imperative and social responsibility, noting that every child deserves a safe start in life.

This year’s theme, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), is “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child” with the slogan “Patient Safety from the Start!”—a message the minister said aligns with Nigeria’s health priorities.

“Newborns and children are among the most vulnerable members of our society and deserve the highest standard of care,” the minister stated. “Adverse events in pediatric and neonatal care remain unacceptably high, with risks as high as 91 percent in intensive care units and more than 50 percent in general pediatric wards.

These are not just statistics; they represent families whose lives have been affected by preventable harm.”

He outlined the campaign’s objectives to include, raise awareness, mobilise stakeholders, empower caregivers, and strengthen research to guide policies and interventions. According to him, Nigeria has made strides through maternal and child health programmes, immunisation campaigns, and continuous training of health workers, but more effort is still needed.

In his welcome remarks, the director of Hospital Services, Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, stressed that patient safety must be the starting point in all medical interventions. He highlighted the vulnerabilities of newborns and infants, noting that millions of patients worldwide still suffer from preventable adverse events.

“‘Patient Safety from the Start’ is more than a slogan—it is a call to action,” Dr. Salaudeen said. “It demands evidence-based practices from the delivery room, stronger infection control in neonatal units, and treatments tailored to children’s evolving needs.”

As part of activities leading to the commemoration, the ministry organized a technical session with health experts, patient safety advocates, and policymakers to discuss best practices in pediatric and neonatal care. In addition, a road walk involving stakeholders—including WHO, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the media, and civil society groups was held to raise public awareness.

Both officials called on healthcare providers, parents, communities, and development partners to collaborate in safeguarding the lives of children.

“No adult was never once a child,” Dr. Salaudeen reminded participants. “We are called to provide the utmost care especially in those first five years and beyond.”

The Federal Ministry of Health assured that Nigeria remains fully committed to the global movement for patient safety, pledging continued reforms to ensure that no child suffers preventable harm.

The regional director for Africa, World Health Organization, Dr Mohamed Janabi represented by Head, Patient Safety Desk, Dr Gilbert  Shetak stated that newborns and children face heightened risks from unsafe care, particularly in intensive care units. “Alarmingly, poor quality care rather than lack of access accounts for an estimated 60% of maternal deaths and 56% of neonatal deaths in low and middle income countries. These are lives we can and must save,” he said.