By Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged African countries to prioritise patient safety in the treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), warning that patients face risks of avoidable harm at different stages of care.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, made the call in a message marking the 2026 World Patient Safety Day, themed, “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases,” with the slogan, “Safe care for life!”
Janabi said people living with diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory conditions often require long-term consultations, tests, medications, referrals and treatment, exposing them to risks including delayed diagnosis, medication errors, adverse drug interactions, poor follow-up and communication gaps.
He noted that NCDs caused at least 43 million deaths globally in 2021 and accounted for 37 per cent of all deaths in the WHO African Region in 2019, compared with 24 per cent in 2000.
According to him, nearly two-thirds of NCD deaths in the region were premature, compared with 41.7 per cent globally.
He added that NCDs remained a major cause of long-term disability and loss of function.
Janabi said risks could arise throughout a patient’s health journey, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and self-management, and could be compounded by stigma, discrimination and limited access to essential medicines and health technologies.
He stressed that efforts to expand access to NCD services must be accompanied by measures to improve the quality and safety of care.
“Strong primary healthcare systems are essential for ensuring continuity of care, early identification of health problems and effective coordination between different levels of the health system,” he said.
Janabi urged health workers to have access to practical guidance, reliable supplies, adequate training and supportive working environments where errors could be reported and used to improve services without fear of blame.
He said countries in the African Region were expanding integrated NCD services through approaches such as WHO PEN at the primary healthcare level and PEN-Plus at first-level referral facilities.
According to him, the approaches bring diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to communities while promoting safer care through evidence-based treatment protocols, clear referral pathways and regular monitoring.
The WHO official also called for greater involvement of people living with NCDs in efforts to improve patient safety, saying their experiences could help identify gaps in healthcare delivery.
“Listening to their experience, communicating clearly and involving them in decisions can prevent harm and improve treatment outcomes,” he said.
He urged health professionals to follow evidence-based protocols and communicate openly with patients and colleagues.
Janabi also encouraged patients and their families to ask questions and raise concerns whenever they were unclear about their care.
“Every person should be protected from avoidable harm throughout their health journey.
“Together, we can reduce avoidable harm and build health services that earn and sustain the trust of the people they serve,” he said.