Belmopan. September 17, 2020. 12:30 p.m.
Today, Belize along with 194 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating World Patient Safety Day. The day is set aside to raise global awareness of the importance of prioritizing and addressing patient safety as a hallmark of good medicine.
This year’s theme is “Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety”. It is centered on the direct correlation that if there are safe health workers, there are safe patients, and this is especially relevant as the world faces the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on health systems worldwide including Belize. More than ever, the challenges continuously encountered by health workers, especially those on the front line, are coming to the forefront. The Ministry of Health continues to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to all its healthcare personnel countrywide; continues to provide weekly training to health staff on various COVID-related subject areas; and continues to encourage patients to use the patient complaint form to document and register complaints that are forwarded to the Ministry for resolution. Furthermore, the Ministry is pleased to share that the Medical Institution Act is on its way to becoming legislation. Presently a bill, one of its primary purposes is to improve patient safety not only within the public sector but also the private sector.
Recognizing this day allows the Ministry of Health to promote all aspects of patient safety, including progress towards reaching national milestones. In solidarity with the call to action, health facilities have been encouraged to display orange colours.
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For more information, contact:
Dr. Phillip Castillo
Health Planner
Ministry of Health
822-0992
