As the world marks World Patient Safety Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for safer care for people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
The WHO said strengthening health systems, improving communication, supporting continuity of care and involving patients in decisions about their treatment can help reduce avoidable harm and improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The 2026 observance, held under the theme “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases” and the slogan “Safe care for life,” focuses on reducing safety risks across the entire NCD care journey, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and long-term follow-up.
Medication misunderstanding highlights patient safety risks
For people living with hypertension, diabetes, cancer and other chronic conditions, healthcare can continue for many years and involve repeated consultations, medicines, diagnostic tests and follow-up appointments.
At every stage, WHO said, clear communication between health workers and patients remains essential.
For 52-year-old Yomi Bolaji from Ondo State, managing hypertension has been part of his daily life for the past 15 years.
After his doctor adjusted the dose of his blood pressure medication, Bolaji continued taking the previous dose because he misunderstood the change. Days later, he developed headaches and dizziness and returned to the health facility for assessment.
“That experience taught me not to make assumptions about my medication. I need to understand what I am taking, the right dose and ask questions when something is not clear,” he said. “I have also learned that managing my blood pressure is a partnership between me and the health workers.”
Bolaji’s experience reflects some of the challenges people living with long-term conditions can face. An unclear prescription, incomplete information, delayed referral or missed diagnosis can disrupt treatment and increase the risk of harm.
Safer care needed across NCD treatment
WHO said NCDs caused around 43 million deaths globally in 2021, while nearly two-thirds of deaths from NCDs in the WHO African Region occur prematurely.
NCDs are also a major cause of disability and reduced quality of life, with risks linked to factors including tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension and air pollution.
In Nigeria, an estimated 30% to 40% of adults aged 30 to 79 live with hypertension, with many people still undiagnosed, untreated or living with uncontrolled blood pressure.
WHO said expanding access to diagnosis and treatment must therefore go alongside efforts to make care safer throughout the patient journey.
The risks can become more complicated when patients have multiple health conditions, take several medicines or receive treatment from different health facilities. Changes made at one facility may not be reflected elsewhere, while some patients may leave consultations without fully understanding their treatment plans.
Pate stresses continuity and patient engagement
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja to mark World Patient Safety Day, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Pate, said ensuring safe and quality care for people living with NCDs is critical as Nigeria expands prevention, diagnosis and treatment services.
“Patient safety requires continuity of care, meaningful engagement of patients and families, and mutual respect between health workers, patients and their relatives. We must move from commitments to action, from reporting to learning, and from learning to sustained improvement in the quality of care,” he said.
WHO’s 2026 campaign identifies key areas for improving patient safety, including safer diagnosis, safer use of medicines, better communication, stronger continuity of care, stronger health systems and greater patient participation in healthcare decisions.
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, said the organisation would continue supporting national efforts to improve the quality and safety of healthcare.
“Preventing avoidable harm is essential to quality, people-centred care. WHO continues to support government efforts to strengthen primary health care and improve the quality and safety of noncommunicable disease services, ensuring that patients and families are actively involved in their care from diagnosis through long-term follow-up.”
Nigeria strengthens patient safety systems
The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is strengthening patient safety and quality of care through wider health sector reforms, including the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector-Wide Approach, which prioritise stronger primary healthcare and progress towards universal health coverage.
Following the approval of the National Patient Safety and Care Quality Policy and Implementation Strategy in 2024, the government established the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety in 2026 to support implementation and strengthen standards for safer care.
WHO has also supported the first phase of the National Hypertension Control Initiative in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Kano State and Ogun State, with funding from Resolve to Save Lives.
The initiative integrates hypertension screening and treatment into primary healthcare using the WHO HEARTS technical package.
By the end of the first phase, hypertension services were available in 104 primary healthcare facilities across Kano and Ogun states. More than 22,700 people had been diagnosed with hypertension, while 16,455 people had been enrolled in care.
Safe care remains a lifelong need
As Nigeria expands prevention and treatment services for NCDs, WHO said progress should be measured not only by access to healthcare but also by the safety and quality of that care.
People living with chronic conditions may require treatment for decades, making safe, coordinated and people-centred care essential throughout their lives.
WHO’s 2026 campaign stresses that safety risks can occur at every stage, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, self-care, rehabilitation and palliative care. It also emphasises that people living with NCDs should be treated as partners in their own care.
For Bolaji, safe care means understanding his treatment and being confident about decisions concerning his health. For Nigeria, it means ensuring that people living with NCDs can access healthcare that is available, safe, coordinated and people-centred.
Sustaining progress will require continued action from government, health workers, development partners, the private sector and communities.
With the establishment of the National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety and ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability, quality improvement and learning across the health system, Nigeria is continuing to build systems aimed at reducing avoidable harm and improving the quality of care.
Share this
