The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, has called on governments, health workers, patients, families and development partners to make patient safety a central part of care for people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
Janabi made the call in his message to mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, commemorated under the theme, “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases,” with the slogan, “Safe Care for Life!”
He noted that people living with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases often require healthcare for many years, involving consultations, diagnostic tests, medications, referrals and treatment.
According to him, every interaction with the health system should improve a patient’s health, but gaps in care can also expose patients to avoidable harm.
Janabi said NCDs accounted for at least 43 million deaths globally in 2021, while in the WHO African Region, they were responsible for 37 per cent of all deaths in 2019, compared with 24 per cent in 2000.
He added that nearly two-thirds of NCD-related deaths in the African Region occur prematurely, compared with 41.7 per cent globally, while the diseases also contribute significantly to long-term disability and loss of function.
The WHO official identified unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity and air pollution among the major factors driving the growing burden of NCDs.
Janabi warned that patients receiving care from multiple health providers and facilities could face risks including delayed or missed diagnoses, medication errors, adverse drug interactions, inadequate follow-up and poor communication during referrals.
He stressed that patient safety must extend across diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and self-management.
The WHO Regional Director also called for stronger primary healthcare systems capable of providing continuity of care, detecting health problems early and coordinating treatment across different levels of the health system.
He said health workers should be provided with practical guidelines, reliable supplies and supportive working environments where errors can be reported and used as opportunities to improve services rather than attract blame.
Janabi noted that countries in the African Region are expanding integrated NCD services through initiatives such as WHO PEN at primary healthcare level and PEN-Plus at first-level referral facilities.
According to him, the initiatives are helping to bring diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to communities while promoting safer practices through evidence-based protocols, clear referral systems and regular monitoring.
He further emphasised the importance of involving patients and families in efforts to improve healthcare safety, noting that their experiences can help identify gaps and risks that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Janabi urged Member States to integrate patient safety into 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 medical technologies.
He also encouraged healthcare professionals to adhere to evidence-based treatment protocols and maintain open communication with patients and colleagues.
Patients and families, he said, should feel empowered to ask questions, raise concerns and seek clarification whenever they are uncertain about their care.
The WHO Regional Director reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting African countries to strengthen primary healthcare and improve the quality and safety of NCD services.
He stressed that every person should be protected from avoidable harm throughout their healthcare journey, adding that collective action is needed to build health systems that earn and sustain public trust.