Hon. Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, OD, MP World Patient Safety Day

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for global action in commemorating ‘World Patient Safety Day.’ September 17 was identified annually to raise awareness among the health care team and engage the public on the varying roles and responsibilities that ensure no one is harmed while receiving treatment. Jamaica, for the first time is part of this initiative for World Patient Safety Day in 2021.

Patient safety is a framework of organised activities that creates cultures, processes, procedures, behaviours, technologies and environments in health care that consistently and sustainably lower risks, reduce the occurrence of avoidable harm, make error less likely and reduce its impact when it does occur.

September 17 of each year is designated for this focus, and World Patient Safety Day 2021 is being observed under the theme, Safe Maternal and Newborn Care. This, in recognition of the significant burden of risks and harm women are exposed to when receiving care during childbirth, and the challenges encountered by newborn babies in the first few days of life. Indeed, the current pandemic has placed greater significance on this vulnerable group, as many of the essential services which could lead to an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity have been disrupted. Since the first cases of COVID-19 in the Americas, 60,458 were reported among pregnant women, including 458 deaths, or 1%, in 14 countries. In Jamaica, at least 156 pregnant women have been recorded as having tested positive for COVID-19.

Action

As part of Jamaica’s inaugural World Patient Safety Day observance, the Ministry will be hosting and organising continuing educational sessions with a goal to standardise the approach to pregnant patients across all regions.

Activities include:

• Weekly educational TeleECHO sessions (for the month of September) on maternal health, with a focus on health care workers’ communication with clients

• Regional antenatal ultrasound clinics for high risk pregnant mothers (September 13-17)

• Training in foetal ultrasonography to commence October 2021 Of special note is the reintroduction of the revised Maternal Record Book created by the Family Health Unit of the Health Services Planning and Integration

Branch. Pregnant mothers must have a copy of this book which covers four pregnancies. This is available at all health centres across the island. Private doctors are encouraged to collect copies of this book from their local health department and distribute to their pregnant patients.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to arm pregnant women and the health workers caring for them with critical information about maintaining their health and that of their baby during pregnancy and after delivery. It is our desire to ensure the best service is offered to our mothers and newborn so as to improve health outcomes.