Promote patients welfare, people told
Salima District Council chairperson Chifungo Katoweka has urged people in the district to promote the welfare of patients admitted to hospitals or at home.
He said this on Saturday in Traditional Authority Maganga when the district commemorated World Patient Safety Day.
Katoweka also asked hospitals to improve service delivery to safeguard the welfare of patients.
He said: “It is, therefore, important for healthcare workers, policymakers and families to collaborate towards developing healthcare policies and safety interventions to promote the welfare of patients.
“Evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care, there are significant gains in safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes.”
Katoweka said by becoming active members of the healthcare team, patients can contribute towards the safety of their care and that of the healthcare system as a whole.
“Guardians also have a responsibility to ensure that they protect patients from infections by washing their hands before handling anything that has to do with the patients,” he said.
Momentum Tikweze Umoyo district coordinator Emmanuel Zumani also asked for collaboration to care for patients admitted to hospital or those at home.
He said commemoration of the day helps to raise awareness of the need for active engagement of patients and their families and caregivers in all settings.
“We also want to engage policymakers, healthcare leaders, healthcare workers, patients’ organisations, civil society and other stakeholders in policies and practices for safe health care,” he said.
World Health Organisation set aside September 17 as World Patient Safety Day and this year’s theme is ‘Engaging patients for patient safety’.
The event was funded by Momentum Tikweze Umoyo and was spiced up by traditional dances
