The 2025 ACQUIRE Leadership Forum opened with a powerful declaration: Africa is acting to make patient safety a top priority. Session 1 brought together health ministry leaders from seven African nations to examine progress on the Global Patient Safety Action Plan (GPSAP) 2021-2030.
Learning from Success Stories
Keynote speaker Dr. Reinavelle Jeunesse Mateo from the Philippines demonstrated improvement is possible when political will meets systematic implementation. Her country has embedded patient safety indicators into hospital performance metrics, with facilities earning performance-based bonuses for achieving safety targets. The Philippines’ approach includes anonymous reporting systems, dedicated patient safety officers, and most importantly, “shifting from a blame culture to a learning environment”.Â
Africa’s Diverse Implementation Journey
The panel demonstrated the key African strategies employed to overcome healthcare difficulties across Africa. Kenya’s Dr. Irungu Kamau announced the recent launch of patient safety technical working groups, while Malawi’s Dr. Bongani Chikwapulo showcased their innovative star-rating system for healthcare facilities. Tanzania’s Dr. Alphonce Chandika has pioneered “no name, no blame” maternal death reporting, reducing maternal mortality from 553 to 104 per 100,000 live births.
Ghana’s Dr. Selina Dussey proposed quarterly African learning platforms for cross-country collaboration, while Ethiopia’s Dr. Eyobed Kaleb emphasized the need for incident reporting guidelines. Nigeria’s Dr. Olanrewaju Olatunji Sulaimon highlighted their national patient safety strategy, and Uganda’s Dr. Edwin Ouma outlined plans for establishing safety reporting systems.The consensus was clear: “Policy without implementation is ineffective” – Africa is ready to move from strategy to measurable action.
Next Up: Session 2A explores how patient and provider voices can co-create safer care through storytelling and empathetic leadership.