International Women’s Health Organisations Recognise World Patient Safety Day
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Today, our organisations – which represent specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology around the world – come together to celebrate World Patient Safety Day, with a particular focus on this year’s theme of safe maternal and newborn care. As organisations dedicated to high quality and timely prenatal, perinatal and postpartum care for pregnant people, we are pleased to collectively join the call to ‘act now for safe and respectful childbirth.’
Around the world, nearly 1,000 people die each day from complications during and after pregnancy. Many of these deaths could be prevented by evidence-based medicine, a commitment to a culture of safety in the delivery room, policies that promote and protect patient access, and the respectful provision of care.
On this World Patient Safety Day, our organisations speak with one voice to call for patient-centred care to be delivered equitably to patients around the world, from pre-pregnancy to postpartum. This requires support from government entities and policymakers, as well as collaboration throughout the medical community. In particular, it demands that attention be given to those who face pregnancy in high-risk areas – due to war, racism, violence, hunger, and other strife – and the unique challenges that they face.
The physiological impact of pregnancy is significant and complex, and we all agree that no pregnant person should die a preventable death, whether it be from haemorrhage, infection, hypertension or heart disease. We are grateful to the World Health Organization for its attention to the importance of maternal health for families everywhere.
As the world witnesses the largest global pandemic in the modern era, we have seen the importance of solidarity and collaboration in support of public safety and the greater good of communities. On World Patient Safety Day, we encourage our nations, leaders, neighbours and partners to apply the same approach to maternal and newborn care and the crisis of maternal mortality around the world.
Co-signatories
African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Cambodian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Colombian Federation of Obstetrics y Gynecology
Czech Gynecological and Obstetrical Society
Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dominican Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Federation of Portuguese Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology
French National College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Gynecological Society of Uruguay
Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Iraqi Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Latin American Federation of Societies of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Lebanese Society of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lithuanian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Mexican Federation of Societies of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Mongolian Association of Obstetrics Gynecology and Neonatology
Myanmar Medical Association
Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Hong Kong
Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Society of Estonian Gynaecologists
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan
South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Swedish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Tunisian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
You can still sign on to this statement as an individual or organisation. Visit this page to make your commitment.