Thread by @DrZweliMkhize

Today we are celebrating the second World Patient Safety Day under the theme: Health worker safety: a priority for patient safety with a call to speak up for health worker safety. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

The theme was chosen because the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the significant challenges and risks that health workers around the world confront in the line of professional duty.#worldpatientsafetyday2020

Your wellbeing, as health workers, and the safety of patients across the country are inseparable and must be addressed comprehensively. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

Clearly, we need a sharper understanding of the factors contributing to patient harm and better insight into approaches that would enhance patient safety. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

Building knowledge is one of the objectives of World Patient Safety Day. Another important objective is to engage the public more actively in our efforts to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

South Africa, along with other countries, is moving towards Universal Health Coverage and striving to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. #worldpatientsafetyday2020 #NHI

Our National Health Insurance (NHI) seeks to provide all South Africans access to quality essential health services – that is, services that are supported by effective systems, are people-centred and are capable of delivering safe care.#worldpatientsafetyday2020 #NHI

Safe, quality care should not be the preserve of the elite, nor should it be an aspiration for some distant future: it should be the DNA of all health systems. #worldpatientsafetyday2020 #NHI

World Patient Safety Day in 2020 directs our attention to the importance of keeping health workers safe. It provides an opportunity to reflect on our management of health worker safety and to strengthen our collective ability to protect our workers. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

I also welcome this commemoration as a moment to express our profound gratitude to our health workers for the risks that they have taken and continue to take as we navigate our way through the #COVID19 pandemic. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

Our health workers are infinitely precious and, as government, we asserted that their protection is non-negotiable. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

#worldpatientsafetyday2020 is a fitting opportunity to launch a national Strategy to protect the health and safety of health workers which seeks to protect both the physical and mental health of frontline health workers and acknowledges their need for social support.

The strategy aims to protect the physical health of health workers through prevention and mitigation of #COVID19 infections by providing a safe physical environment. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

It also seeks to promote mental health of health workers through psychological support and to provide necessary social support. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

It focuses on educating and training health workers to manage COVID-19 cases and implement occupational health and safety protocols. And it recognises the importance of communication among health workers. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

Compassionate care starts with compassionate management. This day is a tribute to all our frontline workers, a recognition of your dedication and a statement of our intention to continually improve the protection available to you. #worldpatientsafetyday2020

We have built unity and
co-operation & we remain committed to quality patient safety and we will continue to ensure our healthcare workers remain safe as well. #worldpatientsafetyday2020