Friday, September 19, 2025 - The Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency has urged healthcare providers and parents to prioritize the safety of children and protect them from harm.
The Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, made
the call on Wednesday at a symposium organized by the agency to commemorate the
2025 World Patient Safety Day in the state.
The theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day, observed
annually on September 17 globally, is “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every
Child,” with its slogan, “Patient Safety from the Start.”
Idowu said patient safety remains an essential component of
healthcare that should be given immediate attention.
She explained that there was an urgent need to raise
awareness and understanding of safe practices such as hand hygiene, healthy
environment, immunization, and exclusive breastfeeding, among others, that make
children less vulnerable to harm.
“The theme resonates deeply because it speaks to our most
fundamental responsibility: protecting the most vulnerable among us from
harm—right from the very start of their lives.
“Every year, millions of newborns and children face
preventable harm due to unsafe practices, gaps in healthcare systems, or a lack
of resources. The statistics are heartbreaking, but they also drive us to do
better,” she said.
The PS pointed out that the Lagos State government, through
the Ministry of Health and agencies like HEFAMAA, remained steadfast in
promoting safe, accessible, and quality healthcare services across all
facilities.
Idowu stated, “Today, we commit ourselves afresh to ensuring
that every child, no matter where they are born, no matter their background,
has access to quality, safe care from the very beginning.
“The truth is, patient safety isn’t just a healthcare
issue—it’s a moral imperative. Every child we protect today is a future we
secure tomorrow. The impact of safe care goes beyond the individual child—it
reverberates throughout families, communities, and entire nations. Safe care
for children is an investment in a healthier, more prosperous world.”
In her remarks, the Chairman of HEFAMAA, Dr Yemisi
Solanke-Koya, said, “Our focus is to ensure that no child, no mother, and no
family suffers avoidable harm due to unsafe care.”
Solanke-Koya said the event provided the agency with the
opportunity to bring together policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the
public to reflect, share knowledge, and commit to safer practices.
On her part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health,
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting
initiatives that advance safe care and child protection.
“We heard clearly that safe beginnings are not negotiable.
From policy reforms to everyday clinical practice, we must work together to
strengthen systems, ensure accountability, and give every child in Lagos State
a fighting chance.
“Today’s celebration is about more than speeches – it is
about hope, unity, and shared responsibility. It is about recognising our
champions in healthcare, acknowledging the voices of our young professionals,
and renewing our collective pledge to place patient safety at the centre of
care,” Ogunyemi said
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