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Showing results for tags 'Africa'.
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Content ArticleThis qualitative study looked at healthcare professionals perceptions of patient safety culture in Ghana. It was conducted with 42 healthcare professionals in two regional government hospitals in Ghana from March to June 2022. The authors note that despite positive attitudes and knowledge of patient safety, healthcare professionals expressed concerns about the implementation of patient safety policies outlined by hospitals. They also highlighted that there was a perception that curriculum training on patient safety during school education and the availability of dedicated officers for patient safety at their facilities may help improve patient safety.
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Content ArticleThe risk of a patient being harmed in a hospital is high in low- and middle-income countries, with the risk of health care-associated infection being up to 20 times higher than in developed countries. This review seeks to assess the current patient safety culture in health facilities in African countries to provide insight into areas of strength and areas for improvement.
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News Article
Senegal midwives convicted over mother's death
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Three Senegalese midwives involved in the death of a woman in labour have been found guilty of not assisting someone in danger. They received six-month suspended sentences, after Astou Sokhna died while reportedly begging for a Caesarean. Her unborn child also died. Three other midwives who were also on trial were not found guilty The case caused a national outcry with President Macky Sall ordering an investigation. Mrs Sokhna was in her 30s when she passed away at a hospital in the northern town of Louga. During her reported 20-hour labour ordeal, her pleas to doctors to carry out a Caesarean were ignored because it had not been planned in advance, local media reported. The hospital even threatened to send her away if she kept insisting on the procedure, according to the press reports. Her husband, Modou Mboup, who was in court, told the AFP news agency that bringing the case to light was necessary. "We highlighted something that all Senegalese deplore about their hospitals," "If we stand idly by, there could be other Astou Sokhnas. We have to stand up so that something like this doesn't happen again." Read full story Source: BBC News, 11 May 2022 -
News ArticleIn September last year, Ebrima Sajnia watched helplessly as his young son slowly died in front of his eyes. Mr Sajnia says three-year-old Lamin was set to start attending nursery school in a few weeks when he got a fever. A doctor at a local clinic prescribed medicines, including a cough syrup. Over the next few days, Lamin's condition deteriorated as he struggled to eat and even urinate. He was admitted to a hospital, where doctors detected kidney issues. Within seven days, Lamin was dead. He was among around 70 children - younger than five - who died in The Gambia of acute kidney injuries between July and October last year after consuming one of four cough syrups made by an Indian company called Maiden Pharmaceuticals. In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) linked the deaths to the syrups, saying it had found "unacceptable" levels of toxins in the medicines. A Gambian parliamentary panel also concluded after investigations that the deaths were the result of the children ingesting the syrups. Both Maiden Pharmaceuticals and the Indian government have denied this - India said in December that the syrups complied with quality standards when tested domestically. It's an assessment that Amadou Camara, chairperson of the Gambian panel that investigated the deaths, strongly disagrees with. "We have evidence. We tested these drugs. [They] contained unacceptable amounts of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and these were directly imported from India, manufactured by Maiden," he says. Ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol are toxic to humans and could be fatal if consumed". Read full story Source: BBC News, 21 August 2023
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News Article
Uganda’s Ebola outbreak ends, leaving relief and unanswered questions
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
No new Ebola infections have been detected in Uganda for 42 days, and so on Wednesday, the World Health Organization and the Ugandan Ministry of Health officially declared that the country’s most recent outbreak of the deadly virus is at an end. Since the outbreak was officially recognised on September 20, 164 people have had confirmed or probable Ebola infections; there 55 deaths confirmed by lab testing, with another 22 deaths suspected of being caused by the virus. Those who have recovered from the virus will receive ongoing support and will be closely monitored to help scientists understand the long term impacts of the Sudan strain of the virus, for which there are currently no treatment or prevention options. The Ugandan government has also set a goal of finally identifying the animal reservoir for Ebola. Read full story Source: CNN, 11 January 2023 -
News Article
Ghana first to approve 'world-changer' malaria vaccine
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Ghana is the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine that has been described as a "world-changer" by the scientists who developed it. The vaccine - called R21 - appears to be hugely effective, in stark contrast to previous ventures in the same field. Ghana's drug regulators have assessed the final trial data on the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, which is not yet public, and have decided to use it. The World Health Organization is also considering approving the vaccine. Malaria kills about 620,000 people each year, most of them young children. It has been a massive, century-long, scientific undertaking to develop a vaccine that protects the body from the malaria parasite. But widespread use of the vaccine hinges on the results of a larger trial involving nearly 5,000 children. These had been expected to take place at the end of last year, but have still not been formally published. However, they have been shared with some government bodies in Africa, and scientists. Read full story Source: BBC News, 13 April 2023 -
News Article
New Marburg outbreaks in Africa raise alarm about the deadly virus’s spread
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
Two concurrent outbreaks of the Marburg virus, a close cousin of Ebola that can kill as many as 90 percent of the people it infects, are raising critical questions about the behaviour of this mysterious bat-borne pathogen and global efforts to prepare for potential pandemics. Marburg causes high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding from orifices. It spreads between people via direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people and with surfaces and materials such as clothing contaminated with these fluids. One of the two outbreaks, in Tanzania in East Africa, seems to have been brought under control, with just two people left in quarantine. But in the other, in Equatorial Guinea on the west coast, spread of the virus is ongoing, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that the country was not being transparent in reporting cases. The WHO said both outbreaks pose regional risks: Equatorial Guinea has porous borders with Cameroon and Gabon, and so far the cases have appeared in geographically diffuse parts of the country. In Tanzania, the Kagera region has busy borders with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Read full story (paywalled) New York Times, 5 April 2023 -
Content Article
Confraternity of Patients Kenya (COFPAK)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in International patient safety
The Confraternity of Patients Kenya (COFPAK) is a registered non-profit organisation, independent of politics or religion, supporting health and social well-being of the public in Kenya. Their mandate is to advance, represent, safeguard and promote the interests of healthcare services seekers at all levels. COFPAK aims to collaborate with all stakeholders in the health sector to advance access to high quality, safe, accountable, affordable and sustainable healthcare ecosystem in Kenya. It exerts influence on policies and programmes toward the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. -
Content ArticleRegina Kamoga, Executive Director of the Community Health And Information Network (CHAIN) in Uganda, delivered this presentation to the 6th Annual Pharmacovigilance Stakeholder Meeting on 30 November 2022. The presentation outlines how CHAIN is working to develop and support expert patients and patient groups in underserved communities in Africa, as well as highlighting the key medication safety issues faced by these communities, including low health literacy, poor reporting culture and healthcare worker knowledge gaps. The presentation then looks at how CHAIN implemented the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Patient Safety Challenge in Ugandan communities through patient engagement and healthcare worker education. To conclude the presentation, Regina makes recommendations to improve medication safety: Sustain advocacy for medication safety and become a voice to the voiceless Adopt a culture of safety that incorporates the patient as a care team member not a perceived receiver of care Build and strengthen networks on patient safety Communication and open discussion between healthcare providers and patients to improve patient doctor relationship Increase collaboration with civil society organisations and patient organisations Adopt Start Early In Life initiative to instil a safety culture early in life Establish medication safety multidisciplinary working group Patient, family and community engagement should be at the core of key stakeholders interventions
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News Article
Nigeria: Wrong medications, major cause of deaths
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The Deputy President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Kabiru Sani, has said that 50% of deaths recorded in the sector are caused by unsafe medication practices and medication errors. This is as he lamented that the health sector loses $42bn annually due to the wrong medications. He stated this at an event in commemoration of 2022 World Patient Safety Day, themed, “Medication Safety” held in Abuja. He said, “According to WHO, unsafe medication practices and medication errors are a leading cause of injury and avoidable harm in health care systems across the world. Globally, the cost associated with medication errors has been estimated at $42bn annually. “We, therefore, need to draw the domestic and global attention of all relevant authorities to the challenges facing patients, and healthcare workers and the urgent need to ameliorate them. The overall objective of world patient safety is to enhance and promote global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in the safety of healthcare workers, and promote global actions to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm." Read full story Source: Punch, 20 September 2022 -
News Article
Nigeria: Patients have the right to know their drugs
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
In order to avoid risk of having adverse drug reactions capable of prolonging the treatment period in the health facilities in Nigeria, experts have advocated the empowerment of patients to know the drugs being administered on them. The call was made when the Occupational Health and Safety Managers in Nigeria commemorated the Work Patient Safety Day with the National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, NOHI, Speaking at the programme aimed to advocate patient safety to members of staff of the NOHI with the theme: Medication Safety with the slogan ‘MEDICATION WITHOUT HARM’, the Director of Nursing services, NOHI, Mrs Temidayo Rasaq-Oyetola, said where there is no medication safety, patient is at the risk of having adverse reaction that can prolong his or her treatment period. She said: “Patients have the right to know their drugs and seek for clarification when necessary. “Where there is no medication safety, patient is at risk of having adverse reaction that can prolong the treatment period. “Patient’s safety should be every stakeholder’s priority that will lead to delivery of efficient health care and best patient outcome. Also, every health institution should ensure medication safety with series of checks.” Read full story Source: Vanguard, 23 September 2022 -
News Article
Zambia: Avoid buying medicines in undesignated places such as buses
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Copperbelt province Clinical Care Specialist Morgan Mweene has warned people against buying medicines from undesignated places such as buses or on the street as the trend is risky to their health. And stakeholders on the Copperbelt have come together to advocate for reduced deaths or disability related cases resulting from wrong administering of medicine to patients in health facilities. Speaking at the inaugural World Patient Safety Day, commemorated in Ndola under the theme, “Medication Safety”, Dr Mweene emphasised the need for people to avoid buying medicines from undesignated places such as buses and on the streets. He further urged patients to take keen interest in medication given at hospitals. “As health workers, we also need to take interest in patients. As health workers let us not tire as we the custodian of health. It is our duty that we take keen interest of whatever we administer to our patients,” he said. Read full story Source: Mwebantu, 30 September 2022 -
Content ArticleThe African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality rate twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. This aim of this study in The British Journal of Anaesthesia was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was developed using data from 8799 patients in 168 African hospitals. It includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The authors concluded that the ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance.
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Content Article
Yakob Seman Ahmed, former Director General for Medical services in Ethiopia and the chair of national patient safety task force, and a recent Humphrey fellow, Public Health Policy, at the Virginia Commonwealth University, reflects on Patient Safety Learning's recent report 'Mind the implementation gap: The persistence of avoidable harm in the NHS' and the similar challenges Ethiopia faces in implementing its own standards and policies.- Posted
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Content Article
This is part of our new series of Patient Safety Spotlight interviews, where we talk to people about their role and what motivates them to make health and social care safer. Ehi talks to us about how building a connection with patients makes their care safer, the safety issues caused by lack of regulation, accountability and transparency, and the moral responsibility each of us has to speak up when we spot safety risks or see a patient harmed. -
Content ArticleNigeria is projected to become one of the most populous countries in the world, and is rightly taking its place on the world stage. The Lancet Nigeria Commission tells the story of the country through a health lens, and details recommendations that will enable the country and its people to fulfil their potential, and seize the opportunity ahead. It has been led by Nigerians for Nigerians. The Commissioners call for the creation of a new social contract that redefines the relationship between citizen and state. They argue that health has, to date, been neglected by successive governments and consequently the citizens of Nigeria, and must be recentred as a vital investment in the population – one that will reap political and economic benefits. Nigeria is poised to define the future of West Africa, the African continent, and the whole world. This Commission lays out how best to realise that ambition.
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Content Article
It has become imperative that we discuss the issue of mental health in doctors and other healthcare staff. The mental wellbeing of a healthcare staff forms the bedrock of patient safety. It takes a safe and supported person to deliver safe healthcare and we must give this attention as we try to find ways to improve the quality of care within our healthcare systems. Ehi Iden, hub topic lead for Occupational Health and Safety, OSHAfrica, reflects on the increasing workload and pressure healthcare professionals face, the impact this has on patient safety and why we need to start 're-humanising' the workplace. -
Content ArticleAn article* from Ehi Iden, hub topic leader, discussing the Nigerian healthcare workforce crisis.
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Content ArticleThe purpose of this paper from Guows et al. was to introduce a new registry in a developing country by describing the demographics, management and 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the public and private healthcare sectors of South Africa.Participation in the HIG (SA) registry was low with poor follow up over the first year. Ongoing prospective data capture on the HIG (SA) hernia registry will continue to provide further insights into hernia repair practices in South Africa.
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EventuntilDigital health promises to revolutionise health care delivery and address longstanding health system challenges, if developed and implemented across systems safely. Join the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London and the African Forum for Primary Health Care (AfroPHC) for the launch of the new report, “Digital health in primary health care: current use and future opportunities in the Sub-Sharan African Region”, The report sets out where digital technologies are being used to drive primary health care innovation across Sub-Saharan Africa, underpinned by examples and lessons learned from experts across the region. The goal in creating this report is to provide a synthesis of current evidence and thought leadership in one place. It presents the current use of digital health across health systems to frame future opportunities, the challenges and threats that must be addressed, providing recommendations to key stakeholder groups. Register
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Event
Nigerian Society of Infection Control 2022 conference
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
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EventTo mark the annual World Patient Safety Day, three organisations - COHSASA of South Africa, AfiHQSA of Ghana and C-CARE (IHK) of Uganda - are collaborating to bring you the latest thinking across Africa regarding 'Medication without harm', the theme for WHO's Third Global Patient Safety Challenge. The Challenge aims to reduce the global burden of iatrogenic medication-related harm by 50% within five years. Join us to hear new ideas, visions and solutions to address medication-related adverse events which cause untold death and suffering around the world. Register for the meeting FINAL INVITE FOR WPSD WEBINAR.pdf
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Community Post
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Content Article
Friends of African Nursing
Patient_Safety_Learning posted an article in International patient safety
Friends of African Nursing (FoAN) was started as an organisation by Lesley and Kate, who had family contacts in Africa and due to their professional nursing backgrounds, had taken an interest in the health systems in African countries which they had visited whilst on holiday. It was apparent to them both separately, that the privilege of the healthcare environment in which they both worked in the UK - which offered continuing education, ready access to journals, speciality (perioperative) education and a professional association (in which they were closely involved, at home) as a ready made network was indeed a huge privilege which should be shared. Their primary interest is in supporting nurses and nursing in Africa. FOAN specialises in supporting nurses who work in Operating Theatres particularly and work with the surgical teams. Surgery is often high risk in Africa and their key interest is to update practice, educate on risk management and patient safety as well as infection prevention measures. They have also delivered programmes for ward leaders and other bespoke courses. Visit the FoAN website to find out more via the link below. -
Content ArticleThis study in the Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management aimed to assess the patient safety situation in Ghana across the World Health Organization's (WHO’s) 12 action areas of patient safety. The authors used interviews and observation including a WHO adapted questionnaire across 16 selected hospitals, including two teaching hospitals selected from the northern and southern parts of the Ghana. The key strength identified in the patient safety situational analysis was knowledge and learning in patient safety, while patient safety surveillance was the weakest action area identified. There were also weaknesses in areas such as national patient policy, healthcare associated infections, surgical safety, patient safety partnerships and patient safety funding.
